What Happened to Brooks Koepka? Is Brooks Koepka a Liv Golfer?
by Sona
Updated May 22, 2023
Who is Brooks Koepka?
Brooks Koepka is an American professional golfer who is known for his success on both the LIV Golf League and the PGA Tour. Hailing from West Palm Beach, Florida, Koepka attended Cardinal Newman High School and later played college golf at Florida State University. He initially started his career on the European Challenge Tour before transitioning to the European Tour and eventually making a name for himself on the PGA Tour.
Koepka's remarkable achievements include reaching the top spot in the Official World Golf Ranking for a remarkable 47 weeks after his victory at the 2018 CJ Cup. He has secured major championship victories, notably winning the U.S. Open in 2017 and 2018, as well as the PGA Championship in 2018, 2019, and most recently in 2023.
By winning the PGA Championship for the third time, he became the first golfer in history to hold back-to-back titles in two majors simultaneously. In just a span of six years, Koepka has amassed an impressive total of five major titles, solidifying his reputation as one of the top golfers in the world.
What Happened to Brooks Koepka?
Brooks Koepka had high hopes of winning the prestigious green jacket at Augusta but fell short of his goal. Despite a strong start, being tied for first place after Thursday's round and maintaining the lead after 36 and 54 holes, Koepka couldn't maintain his momentum in the fourth round. He struggled with six bogeys, ultimately finishing in second place alongside Phil Mickelson, another player from the LIV Golf league.
Koepka's opening round at the Masters was impressive, starting with a score of 65. However, he faced a 13-point deficit heading into the final round, with Jon Rahm leading at under 9. Koepka encountered difficulties, making a bogey on the fourth hole and a double bogey on the sixth. He managed only three birdies in the final round, resulting in a score of 76.
This disappointment at the Masters follows Koepka's missed cut at the tournament in 2022. While he fell short of achieving his desired outcome this year, Koepka remains a talented and resilient golfer who will surely continue to strive for success in future competitions.
Is Brooks Koepka a Liv Golfer?
Yes, Brooks Koepka is indeed a LIV Golfer. He joined the league in June 2022 and has participated in two events thus far. Koepka's triumph at the LIV Golf Invitational in Jeddah in July 2022 marked him as the first LIV Golfer to win a major tournament. Additionally, he secured a tied 12th place at the LIV Golf Invitational Portland in September 2022.
Koepka is widely recognized as a remarkable golfer, having clinched four major championships. He emerged victorious at the U.S. Open in both 2017 and 2018, and also triumphed at the PGA Championship in 2018 and 2019. After enduring a challenging period, Koepka's return to the pinnacle of success can be attributed to two significant factors: his regained health and his decision to join LIV Golf.
Brooks Koepka Injury Knee
Brooks Koepka has faced multiple knee injuries throughout his career. He underwent surgery on his left knee in 2019 for a torn patella tendon and later re-injured it at the CJ Cup that same year. In 2020, he also had a labrum injury in his left hip. In March 2021, Koepka suffered a more severe knee injury, dislocating his right kneecap and sustaining ligament damage.
Despite being initially told it would take 18 months to fully recover, he returned to competition just three weeks later at the Masters. Remarkably, he achieved top-8 finishes in the year's final three majors, playing through the injury. The knee injury has significantly impacted Koepka's career, causing him to miss time on the PGA Tour and limiting his performance.
Nonetheless, he has demonstrated resilience and a determination to regain his form and reach the top of the golf world. Currently ranked 15th in the world, Koepka has been performing well in 2023. He is also a member of the LIV Golf Invitational Series, a new golf tour supported by Saudi Arabia, where he has already secured a victory in one event.
Brooks Koepka Majors Wins
In April, Brooks Koepka emerged victorious at the LIV Golf Orlando event. The following week, he secured a tied second-place finish at the 2023 Masters Tournament, trailing Jon Rahm by four shots. Koepka faced the challenge of playing 30 holes on the final day of the tournament due to weather-related delays, starting the day with a four-stroke lead.
In May, Koepka triumphed at the 2023 PGA Championship held at Oak Hill Country Club, making history as the first LIV Golf player to claim a major championship. In a tightly contested final round, Koepka outperformed Viktor Hovland and Scottie Scheffler to capture his third Wanamaker Trophy. He had previously won the PGA Championship in 2018 at Bellerive and in 2019 at Bethpage.
This notable achievement marks Koepka's fifth major title, placing him among a select group of immensely talented golfers throughout history who have achieved this feat. With this win, he becomes the 20th golfer ever to secure five major victories. Additionally, Koepka has previously emerged victorious at the U.S. Open in 2017 and 2018. However, he has yet to claim victories at the Masters or the Open Championship.
Brooks Koepka Coach
Brooks Koepka had been working with Claude Harmon III as his coach since 2013. However, in a surprising turn of events, they announced their split in January 2021. Despite parting ways with Harmon, Koepka managed to secure a victory at the Phoenix Open just a few weeks later.
The win held significant emotional value for Koepka, considering his extended absence from the game in 2020 due to injury. Currently, Koepka's team includes his caddie Ricky Elliott, wife Jena Sims, putting coach Jeff Pierce, physical therapist Marc Wahl, and trainer Derek Samuel.
As the 2023 Augusta Masters approached, which allowed 17 LIV Golf players, including Koepka, to compete, his coach Pete Cowen shared his assessment of Koepka's prospects in the tournament. In an interview with The Times, Cowen expressed that it would be challenging for the rebel players from LIV Golf to perform well at the event.
Brooks Koepka Illness
In August 2019, Brooks Koepka started experiencing knee troubles and underwent stem cell treatment to repair a partially torn left patella tendon. Unfortunately, he re-injured the tendon in September of that year after slipping at the CJ Cup, which resulted in a three-month absence from the sport.
Unfortunately, in 2020, Koepka's attempts to compensate for the lingering knee injury resulted in additional complications. His altered swing and movements to accommodate the knee problem inadvertently placed added stress on his left hip. As a result, he aggravated the labrum in his hip, further complicating his physical condition and requiring additional attention and care.
What Happened to Brooks Koepka? FAQs
Brooks Koepka is an American professional golfer who is known for his success on both the LIV Golf League and the PGA Tour.
Brooks Koepka has experienced knee injuries and underwent surgery on his left knee in 2019. He suffered a more severe knee injury in 2021 but managed to return to competition after a few weeks.
Yes, Brooks Koepka is a LIV Golfer. He joined the LIV Golf league in 2022 and has participated in several events.
Yes, Blake Koepka is Brooks Koepka's younger brother, who is also a professional golfer.
Brooks Koepka has won a total of five major championships. He has triumphed at the U.S. Open in 2017 and 2018, as well as the PGA Championship in 2018, 2019, and 2023.