“Star Golfer Brooks Koepka’s Naked Ambition Derails Game, Caddie Spills the Beans!”
The world of golf has seen its fair share of drama, but none quite as unique as the tale of star golfer Brooks Koepka’s deviation from the PGA Tour to chase a more lucrative offer with LIV Golf in 2023. The nine-time PGA Tour champion still holds a soft spot for his former turf, as revealed in the debut episode of the LIV Golf team Smash GC’s podcast, Talking Smash.
In an enlightening conversation with his caddie, Ricky Elliot, Koepka fondly reminisced about the rollercoaster of experiences they shared on the PGA Tour. However, one particular incident stood out – a peculiar saga of a nude photo shoot and a starved caddie.
Heralding back to the PLAYERS Championship in 2019, Koepka was gearing up to bag his first title at the iconic TPC Sawgrass. Simultaneously, he was also preparing for his appearance as the cover star of ESPN’s Body Issue 2019 Annual edition. His two-fold ambition, however, seemed to be at odds with each other.
Koepka, in his quest for a perfect physique, had drastically cut down on his food intake. Elliot observed a clear shift in the player’s focus, remarking, “Your mind wasn’t on it for a few weeks because you were more worried about this naked photo shoot.”
The effects of his dietary experiment began to manifest on the course. During a crucial hole at the tournament, Koepka seemed utterly disoriented, asking Elliot where his shot went, oblivious to the fact it had landed in the water. The caddie’s advice? “No, you got (to) start eating man,” a sentiment that Koepka sheepishly acknowledged.
However, this wasn’t the only instance of tension between the golfer and his caddie. Elliot recollected another altercation during the Memphis tournament in 2018. After a series of missteps, Koepka found himself blaming Elliot for a wrongly selected club, which escalated into a heated argument.
The situation reached a boiling point when Elliot, exasperated by the golfer’s constant grumbling, snapped and told Koepka to “shut the f— up.” Elliot confessed that he was so frustrated that he wouldn’t have minded getting fired at that moment.
Ironically, this confrontation seemed to do wonders for Koepka’s game. Elliot noticed a marked improvement in his performance post the altercation, leading to the duo adopting a ‘don’t fix what ain’t broken’ approach. Elliot confessed, “I was like, I’m not going to break the mould now, whenever these guys are going well, you don’t change what’s happening.”
Despite the occasional heated exchanges, the pair share a bond that has turned these incidents into fond memories. Their journey, filled with ups and downs, is a testament to the unpredictable world of golf and the unique dynamics that shape it.