Having started the final round with a two shot lead Brooks Koepka finished four shots behind the eventual winner, Jon Rahm after carding 73 and 75 for his final two rounds.
“Yeah, obviously it’s super disappointing, right,” said Koepka.
“Didn’t play good enough to win. Hit some shots where I also feel like I didn’t get some good breaks, the ball on 9; on 4 and 6, hit some good shots and just ended up in some terrible spots where it was quite difficult.
“Then 12, it was just kind of interesting, Jon hit 9 and I hit wedge over the green. Then 14, I felt like I just had to make a run for it. Didn’t feel like I did too much wrong, but that’s how golf goes sometimes.”
Having opened with rounds of 65 and 67 and still enjoying a seemingly comfortable lead heading to the final round Koepka was asked about his game plan and if it changed for the final round?
“I think it was just be patient until probably about 13, and then we had to be a little more aggressive. I thought that — I let probably 9 stick on me for a little bit longer than it should have because if this ball just dribbles on the green, it’s tight. Then a good momentum putt on 10.
“But it is what it is. I tried. Gave it my all, so I can go to sleep at night.”
No press conference is complete without the obligatory LIV question these days and with three of the top six players on the leaderboard being LIV players (Koepka, Mickelson and Reed), Koepka was asked if he thought that justified the quality of the LIV Tour, when they can come and still compete against the best players in the world?
“I mean, we’re still the same people. So I mean, I know if I’m healthy, I know I can compete. I don’t think any of the guys that played this event thought otherwise, either. When Phil plays good, we know he’s going to compete. P-Reed, the same thing.
“I think that’s just manufactured by the media that we can’t compete anymore; that we are washed up,” added Koepka.
The Masters Tournament always has and always will (so we’ve been told) showcase the best players in the world and it is intended to highlight the best in the game of golf and be a standard bearer for the game and Koepka thinks that this week it lived up to its billing.
“I think it’s the best tournament in the world, and I think everybody put on a pretty good display. You know, Phil, what did he shoot today, 7-under? That’s pretty impressive. Spieth, 6. P-Reed 4, Cameron Young, 4. I think me and Viktor were the only ones to shoot over par.
“But the way Jon played today was pretty impressive. I don’t know, the game, it’s so good right now, everybody, it’s amazing to see all these guys compete. When they are at their best, they are all tough to beat.”
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