Brooks Koepka feels that his PGA Championship win last year helped change the perception of LIV Golf but insists that LIV players will win their fair share of major championships over the next five years.
Koepka became the first LIV golfer to win a major championship when he scooped his fifth title at the PGA Championship as he held off Viktor Hovland.
The American had finished second in the Masters before the tournament while Bryson DeChambeau, Cam Smith, Dustin Johnson all showed up well in the majors last year before the Saudi backed tour recruited Jon Rahm for this campaign.
Koepka, who will defend his PGA crown later this month believes LIV Golf has enough quality players to win major championships.
“It helped LIV Golf, but you’ve got everybody that tees it up at a major championship ready to go, ready to go win the thing. If not, then they shouldn’t be there,” said Koepka.
“Look, it’s going to happen over time. There’s too many good players. You look at it consistently, you’ve got Jon, Bryson, Dustin, Cam. Those are guys that are going to win quite a few majors. As long as we’re in them, I think there’s a good chance that people over the next four or five years will have a few.
“There’s too many good players in the game and too many good players.”
Speaking ahead of LIV Singapore, Koepka gave the stock “I don’t know” answer when asked about the merger between the PGA Tour and PIF and what that could mean for LIV Golf potentially switching from 54 to 72 holes.
“I mean, the merger is also between PIF and the PGA TOUR. I think that’s the difference. It’s not LIV Golf, it’s the PIF and the PGA TOUR. I think that’s something that needs to be well-known.
“Look, we have no idea. The PGA TOUR has no idea. Our job is to go play golf, and that’s it. That’s what we’re here to do. But I think it’s important that that merger is that way.”
Koepka’s Smash GC teammate Graeme McDowell added: “I think we all believe that the product we’re playing in right now is strong and we don’t think it’s going to go away anytime soon.
“I think there’s a lot of positives for the fan with the team element. We saw the first team playoff last week in Australia. There’s just so many good things that we’re doing out here. I really feel like the trajectory is moving us in the right direction, and I don’t think this product is going anywhere anytime soon regardless of any mergers.
“We’re very, very happy with what we’re doing and with the product that we’re playing in.”
The hype around Koepka heading into last year’s PGA Championship was sky high after his runner-up finish at Augusta National, but that fanfare has cooled after an underwhelming start to 2024.
The American admits he is struggling on the greens and has been using a mallet putter to try and combat the issue.
“It’s been in the bag two weeks before Augusta. I haven’t even putted with that other putter, the one I’ve putted with for — the button back that I’ve putted with for probably 12, 14 years, I haven’t putted with it since then.
“I can’t find the hole at all, to be honest with you. Something we’ve just been putting some work into, so trying to find some answers.
“Ball doesn’t go in the hole, that’s usually one of them. I don’t know how else to simply put it. I feel like I’m hitting good putts, they just keep burning lips. Eventually it starts to wear on you after a while. All you can do is hit a good putt and see where it goes from there. Hopefully they start falling soon.”
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