According to The Telegraph, turbulent times for the PGA Tour are rolling in as another one of its famous stars is about to join the LIV series of golf led by Greg Norman.
UK paper reports that Brooks Koepka joins the controversial Saudi-backed tour, Joining the likes of Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau and other game stars who have already defected.
Koepka, who has won four major tournaments, has canceled the PGA Tour from his social media platforms. He is expected, according to the report, to play at the upcoming LIV Golf event, next week in Portland.
32-year-old Koepka is a huge opportunity for the LIV Tour considering that, like rivals DeChambeau and Johnson, he is at the height of his career – unlike some of the other players who joined who are all 40 or older.
Also of note is the fact that Koepka’s younger brother, Chase, a budding pro who has been fighting for his PGA Tour card in order to play on that tour, is already a member of the LIV, having played at the opening gala two weeks ago.
Interestingly, Koepka, a two-time US Open winner, was outspoken at the US Open last week in his criticism in the media who ask questions about LIV, Saying it is throwing a “black cloud” on the major.
“I don’t get it, I’m trying to focus on the US Open, man,” said Koepka, who finished the team 12th and tied for 55th. “I don’t legitimately understand it. I’m tired of conversations. I’m tired of all this stuff.
“I’m here at the US Open, and I’m ready to play the US Open, and I think it’s kinda bad, you’re all throwing this black cloud at the US Open. It’s one of my favorite events. I don’t know why you keep doing that, Guys. The more legs you give him, the more you keep talking about him.”
Well, it looks like Koepka has given the LIV Golf more legs.
Mickelson was reportedly received $200 million by Liv, Johnson $125 million, and DeShampoo $100 million. It is not known what the Koepka number is. But he’s racked up $37.9 million in career prize money so far on the PGA Tour, and the guaranteed money from LIV is likely to be at least double, maybe triple. this number.
PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan was expected to hold a mandatory meeting of players on Tuesday at the Travelers Championship to discuss, among other things, an intense fall schedule with much larger wallets – an apparent bid to react to LIV Golf. “
Monahan has suspended all 17 members of the PGA Tour who have played in their first LIV event outside London and are expected to do the same for those, such as DeChambeau, Patrick Reed and Koepka when and if they do next week in Portland.
Certainly, many questions will arise among the players in that meeting with Monahan Tuesday.
