NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. — Brooks Koepka is back on the PGA Tour and this week he’s back at a major championship he has won three times. The 36-year-old, who recently left LIV Golf, said last week after shooting a 64 at the Myrtle Beach Classic that the most important thing for him is that he’s back having fun playing golf.
Off-Course Struggles
On Thursday at Aronimink, Koepka expanded on the topic explaining that it’s more about life off the golf course. “We had a lot of family issues go on last year,” Koepka said. “It was noted, and that took a toll on me. It definitely took a toll on Jenna. That was kind of tough to deal with.”
The couple, who have a two-year-old son named Crew, suffered a miscarriage last October. His wife Jenna Sims posted a heartbreaking message on social media at the time. “At 16 weeks, we learned that our baby’s heart had stopped beating,” she wrote. “This is a grief no parent is ever prepared for. We are devastated, but remain hopeful to give Crew a sibling one day.”
A Fresh Start
The five-time major winner previously has said that returning to the PGA Tour has allowed the family to be closer to home. Koepka said on Thursday that life has improved. “Yeah, I mean, at home it’s in a much better place,” he said. “It’s easier to come out to work when everything at home lines up. Everything’s a lot better. Last year was just difficult personally with what was going on off the golf course, nothing to do on it. It was just off.”
He added: “So yeah, just being in a better place. It’s exciting. It’s a little bit of a fresh start as well. I think that’s a big piece of it. Yeah, when all that kind of lines up, it makes it enjoyable to be out here.”
Leaving LIV Golf at Perfect Time
Koepka’s timing to leave LIV Golf now looks to be a stroke of genius as the breakaway league’s future is uncertain at best now that it’s officially set to lose Saudi funding at season’s end. The American golfer had little to say about his former tour. “I don’t have any involvement with it anymore, so I don’t pay any attention to it,” Koepka said. “I’m kind of in my own little world and I’d like to stay there. It’s in the past and I’m on the PGA Tour now, and I’m just focused on how I can figure out how to make this putter work.”
The 2018, 2019 and 2023 PGA Championship winner began his pursuit for a fourth title with a one-under 69 on an Aronimink course that is confounding the world’s best players. Koepka managed to break par despite an awful day with his putter. “I feel good. Every round just seems to be the worst I can shoot. Putter is absolutely horrendous,” he said. “Ball striking is absolutely phenomenal. That’s been the story of the year. Hopefully we can figure out a way to turn this around.”
As for the viral story of Thursday at the PGA Championship, Koepka said he couldn’t relate to South African Garrick Higgo showing up 30 seconds late for his tee time and being knocked with a two-stroke penalty. “I don’t know. I’ve never been late,” Koepka said. “It definitely should be a shot at least, maybe two. What is it, two now? I don’t know. Somebody else can make that decision.”
