NORTH PLAINS, Ore. — What changed for Brooks Koepka? What led him to pull an about-face, to go from labeling those who joined the LIV Golf Series as sellouts, and saying he would not chase the money … to doing exactly those things.
“Just my opinion. My opinion changed,” Koepka said Tuesday during his first media availability since leaving the PGA Tour last week and taking what is believed to be at least $100 million to take his talents to LIV Golf.
“I feel very comfortable with the decision that was made. I’m very happy and I did what was best for me.”
In a press conference that was at times contentious and included LIV golfer talking points (the innovation, the lure of team competition, the opportunity to spend more time at home), Koepka, the four-time majors winner from Jupiter, was joined on the podium by Pat Perez and Patrick Reed, three of the more recent defectors from the PGA Tour.
Koepka, 32, was a nice addition by Greg Norman and the series being financed by Saudi Arabia’s PIF Investment Fund. He added another layer of credibility – along with newcomers Bryson DeChambeau, Abraham Ancer and Patrick Reed – to the series.
But it still leaves LIV far from the tour they all left when it comes to prestige and validity.
Still, none of that matters to Koepka, who will play in his first LIV event this week at the Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club outside of Portland.
Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, others repeat talking points
Koepka, and his peers including DeChambeau, Ancer and Matthew Wolff, who spoke earlier Tuesday, are in lockstep when it comes to questions about the source of the money, which is from a nation with atrocious human rights violations.
They respect people’s feelings and opinions (another talking point), but, hey, this all about golf.
“They’re allowed to have their opinions,” Koepka said. “You know, we’ve heard it. I think everybody has. It’s been brought up. But, look, like we said, our only job is to go play golf, and that’s all we’re trying to do. We’re trying to grow the game, do all this other stuff. And we’re trying the best we can.
“We’re here to play golf. We’re excited about it.”
The award for the most tone-deaf, wish-I-had-that-back answer to the question goes to DeChambeau, who, after saying he respects those opinions regretfully added, “I think moving on from that is important.”
Koepka, who said he has not resigned his PGA Tour membership, admitted the grind of weekly events…
..
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Golfweek…