Golf was among the last trash talk-free zones in American sports until Brooks Koepka swaggered his method to the first tee. He was never going to be Conor McGregor, but pushed by his superhero arms and unbending belief in himself, Koepka in some cases said things that would make a pay-per-view promoter proud.
Like on Saturday night, when Koepka was asked how he felt about starting the last round of the PGA Championship chasing his friend Dustin Johnson, a year after Johnson almost ran him down at Bethpage. A two-time defending champ of this event and a four-time significant winner, Koepka decided it was time to reveal Johnson his trophy case.
” I indicate, I like my possibilities,” Koepka said. “When Ive remained in this position prior to, Ive capitalized. I do not know, hes just won one.”
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Hey, most of us bought what Koepka was offering at TPC-Harding Park in San Francisco. He had an established history of walking the talk, making it simple to imagine his two-shot deficit being erased a half-dozen holes into the round.
But a weird thing occurred to Koepka on his way to making history as the first three-peat winner of any significant champion in more than six decades. As soon as in his Saturday news conference, he started playing like all the one-hit wonders (in addition to Johnson) he referenced more than. On a day when the 23-year-old winner, Collin Morikawa, shot 64 and emerged from a surreal seven-way tie for the lead on the back nine, Koepka shot a 4-over 74, which beat precisely one player (Jim Herman) out of the 78 he was contending against.
One out of 78, after taking an unnecessary dig at a previous U.S. Open champ who was worthy of much better.
Rory McIlroy, possibly the trips most thoughtful player, stated that he was taken aback by the remark, which Koepka needs to have at least picked his targets more carefully. “Sort of tough to knock a man thats got 21 wins on the PGA Tour,” McIlroy stated of Johnson, “which is three times what Brooks has.”
Rorys may have been the very best iron shot on a remarkable pandemic day that provided a brand of golf that would have influenced fans to roar all round, had they been allowed on the course. Who could possibly think there would be 7 gamers connected at 10 under deep into the round, with none of them being called Brooks Koepka?
But sure enough, while golf enthusiasts up and down the leaderboard were busy shooting in the mid-60s, the presumed favorite was looking more like one of the routine 16 handicappers at this city-owned course. Having Fun With Paul Casey, who would shoot 66 and finish in a tie for second with Johnson, Koepka confessed he was lowered to a nonentity after closing his front 9 with 3 consecutive bogeys.
” I was simply there to cheer Paul on,” he said.
Constructed for NFL contact, Koepka became the unbelievable shrinking man. CBS cameras stopped showing him altogether, the supreme indignity for a competitor who had called out another male.
” Every time I hit it in the rough today,” Koepka stated, “I got most likely the worst lie Ive had all week. … Hey, wasnt indicated to be. 3 in a row, youre not truly supposed to do two in a row looking at history, however thats all. Got 2 more [majors] the rest of the season and well figure it out from there.”
On any other Sunday gone awry, Koepka would have earned the benefit of the doubt. He had dealt with a significant knee injury before almost winning in Memphis, Tennessee, last week. This PGA Championship might have been a throwaway for him, a bridge back to full health and, perhaps, pushing his opportunity at a fifth significant victory to Septembers U.S. Open or Novembers Masters.
He said what he said Saturday and there ought to be consequences for failing to honor his words. Not that this will be the last time Koepka talks more like a mixed martial arts fighter than a golf player. The guy who declared majors are simpler to win than minors, due to the fact that numerous gamers in the field do not have his ability and grace under pressure, has a long history of blustering his way from tee to green.
Koepka prides himself on being an athlete initially, rather than the prototypical golf nerd, and on being a singular force on tour. “Im not close with any of the guys out here,” he recently informed Golfweek during an interview in which he stated his reported friendship with Johnson was “blown out of proportion.”
Koepka has rejected reports that he had an altercation with Johnson after the 2018 Ryder Cup, but there is no disputing the fact that they were when roomies and exercised together at a fitness center in Jupiter, Florida. Once the more prominent player, Johnson was. Possibly after beating Johnson in 2 Long Island, New York, majors– at Shinnecock in 2018 and at Bethpage in 2019– Koepka figured he could bend his muscles at Harding Park and remind his friend/frenemy/former good friend that hell be the one doing the overshadowing moving forward.
In the end Sunday, Koepka lucked out when Johnsons 68 wasnt excellent enough to claim his second significant title. But this wasnt about Johnson as much as it was about the man who shot 74, the man who looked completely cleaned out on his last hole while he rounded off his 6th bogey.
Brooks Koepka was finally humbled. And that was without a doubt the most significant upset of the day.
” I indicate, I like my possibilities,” Koepka stated. On a day when the 23-year-old winner, Collin Morikawa, shot 64 and emerged from a surreal seven-way tie for the lead on the back 9, Koepka shot a 4-over 74, which beat exactly one player (Jim Herman) out of the 78 he was competing versus.
” Every time I struck it in the rough today,” Koepka stated, “I got most likely the worst lie Ive had all week. Koepka has actually rejected reports that he had an altercation with Johnson after the 2018 Ryder Cup, but there is no contesting the reality that they were when roommates and worked out together at a health club in Jupiter, Florida. Perhaps after beating Johnson in two Long Island, New York, majors– at Shinnecock in 2018 and at Bethpage in 2019– Koepka figured he could bend his muscles at Harding Park and remind his friend/frenemy/former pal that hell be the one doing the eclipsing going forward.
