‘I’ve basically given up’: Brooks Koepka slams LIV Golf teammate
By Matt Chivers
The relationship between Smash GC team captain Brooks Koepka and teammate Matthew Wolff appears to have broken in half.
Wolff, known for his unique swing and immense distance off the tee, has been in a rotten run of form recently, encapsulated by his withdrawal before the third round of the LIV D.C. event, where he was 46th out of 48 golfers through 36 holes.
He then finished in 44th at Valderrama last week and will be looking to turn things round this week at LIV Golf London.
However, Koepka was not happy with his compatriot following that withdrawal from the American capital five weeks ago.
“I mean, when you quit on your round, you give up and stuff like that, that’s not competing,” Koepka said to Sports Illustrated.
“I’m not a big fan of that. You don’t work hard. It’s very tough. It’s very tough to have even like a team dynamic when you’ve got one guy that won’t work, one guy is not going to give any effort.
“He’s going to quit on the course, break clubs, gets down, bad body language, it’s very tough. I’ve basically given up on him – a lot of talent, but I mean the talent’s wasted.”
In the same time period, Koepka has gone on to have top-two finishes in both the Masters and the PGA Championship, winning the latter to secure his fifth major championship.
The 33-year-old has also finished in the top six in four of the last six LIV Golf events, including a victory in Orlando earlier this year. Koepka currently sits in second in the individual standings behind Talor Gooch, the only three-time winner in LIV Golf’s short history.
Wolff, on the other hand, is currently outside the all-important top 24 in the individual standings. The top 24 at the end of the 2023 season are guaranteed a place in the 2024 league.
However, he is still looking to improve in London, and added he is healthy.
“I’m here – trying to do what I can to play the best round of golf and that’s going to help the team,” Wolff told Sports Illustrated.
“I’m just here to focus on myself and try to play some good golf and that’s what everyone’s really trying to do, because golf is trying to put the best score up and then if that helps your team it’s great.”
London is the ninth event in the 2023 LIV Golf season, with five more events to follow, allowing Wolff the chance to guarantee his 2024 spot.
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Matt Chivers
Now on the wrong side of 25, Matt has been playing golf since the age of 13 and was largely inspired to take up the game by countless family members who played golf during his childhood.
Matt is a member at Royal Cinque Ports in Deal playing off a 5 handicap, just a pitching wedge away from his hometown of Dover where he went to school and grew up. He has previously been a member at Etchinghill and Walmer and Kingsdown in Kent.
Having studied history at the University of Liverpool, Matt went on to pass his NCTJ Exams in Manchester a year later to fulfil his lifelong ambition of becoming a journalist. He picked up work experience along the way at places such as the Racing Post, the Independent, Sportsbeat and the Lancashire Evening Post.
Matt joined NCG in February 2023 and is the website’s main source of tour news, features and opinion. He has reported live from events such as The Open, the Ryder Cup and The Players Championship, having also interviewed and spent time with some of the biggest names in the sport.
Consuming tour golf on what is a 24/7 basis, you can come to Matt for informed views on the game and the latest updates on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour and LIV Golf.
What’s in Matt’s bag: Cobra LTDx LS driver, Cobra LTDx 3-wood, TaylorMade P7MC irons, Ping Glide 4.0 wedges, Odyssey putter.
