Does LIV Golf have its new next big name signed for the breakaway series? According to reports in The Guardian and Sky Sports, it does as the Saudi-backed league will announce that four-time Major winner Brooks Koepka is joining ahead of the second LIV Golf Invitational event next week at Pumpkin Ridge outside of Portland.
Koepka, 32, is an eight-time winner on the PGA Tour, with a dominant stretch of play between 2017 and 2019 that saw him claim back-to-back US Open titles and back-to-back PGA Championship victories. His performance in Major championships has been outstanding prior to 2022, with 16 top-10 finishes in 28 starts from 2014 to 2021.
This season has seen far less impressive results, missing the cut at the Masters, finishing T-55 at the PGA Championship and solo 55th at the US Open. During the overall 2021-22 PGA Tour season, Koepka has made 15 starts with just two top-10 finishes. His World Ranking has dropped to No.19 after being the World No.1 for 47 weeks in 2018.
Internet observes noticed on Monday that Brooks Koepka’s Twitter account had been edited, with references to being on the PGA Tour in his bio taken out. Koepka has played only sparingly since the spring, competing in only the WGC-Dell Match Play and the three Majors since the Valspar Championship in March. He is in the field, however, at this week’s Travelers Championship.
Koepka appeared to be on the defensive when asked multiple questions about LIV Golf during a pre-championship press conference last week at the US Open. “I’m here at the US Open. I’m ready to play US Open, and I think it kind of sucks, too, you are all throwing this black cloud over the US Open. It’s one of my favourite events. I don’t know why you guys keep doing that. The more legs you give it, the more you keep talking about it.”
In February, Koepka had said he wasn’t interested in joining the Saudi-backed group but noted that the idea wasn’t going away as some were forecasting.
“I think it’s going to still keep going,” Koepka said at the Honda Classic. “I think there will still be talk … everyone talks about money. They’ve got enough of it. I don’t see it backing down; they can just double up and they’ll figure it out. They’ll get their guys. Somebody will sell out and go to it.”
There had been speculation regarding whether Keopka might join the breakaway league after his younger brother Chase was among the 48 players who competing in the inaugural LIV Golf event outside London earlier this month.
Meanwhile, the golf world braces for potential other additions to the LIV Golf roster that could be revealed ahead of next week’s event at Pumpkin Ridge, according to sources.
