EXCLUSIVE: Brooks Kopka answers our questions - did his comments on Dustin Johnson backfire?
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EXCLUSIVE: Brooks Kopka answers our questions - did his comments on Dustin Johnson backfire :
Brooks Koepka drew a lot of attention Sunday at the PGA Championship, and not just because he entered the final round just two shots off the lead in his bid for a third consecutive Wanamaker Trophy.
The four-time major winner drew fire for a comment he made in a post-round interview Saturday night that was widely interpreted as a disdain for his friend and former major winner Dustin Johnson, who led the tournament, and other players near the top of the leaderboard.
“A lot of the guys on the leaderboard, I don’t think have won, I guess DJ has only won one. I don’t know a lot of the other guys up there,” Koepka said.
With 54 holes, Scottie Scheffler and Cameron Champ followed Johnson with one stroke, while Koepka was a lower shot alongside Paul Casey and eventual winner Collin Morikawa. Rory McIlroy was among those who considered the comment disrespectful.
"It's a very different mindset regarding golf that I don't think a lot of golfers have," McIlroy said after Sunday's final round. "I was watching golf last night and I heard the interview and I was a little confused by what he said and whether or not he was trying to play mind games.
"I mean, a little hard to hit a guy who's won 21 pga Tour victories, which is three times what Brooks has," he added ostensibly.
Golfweek spoke with Koepka on Wednesday about the fallout from his remarks, if he had any regrets and if he had contacted Johnson.
Eamon Lynch: What was the intent of the comment?
Brooks Koepka: Honestly, I was struggling at the end of the third round. I was back and saw that DJ was at minus 9. I made a birdie to get to minus-7. I was focused on Dustin. I had no idea who was 8 years old or with me at 7 years old. To be honest, when I look at a leaderboard, I never look at who's behind me or tied with me, I only look ahead. I consider myself moving forward no matter what. So I regret that part of it. That's what I was trying to say - that I didn't know who was in the leaderboard at the time because I hadn't looked. I really didn't know the guys when I was 8 and 7 years old. This part I regret and I wish I had used different words because I wasn't paying enough attention to who was under Dustin because that was my main goal. When someone asks me if I can win, I always say yes, it's the competitor in me. I'm not here to finish second. I think that's where some of the arrogant stuff comes from because I still think I can win and really believe in it.
Lynch: So it's specifically the "other guys" part of the comment that holds you wrong?
Koepka: Yes, it's definitely that part because it's a chance for all the other guys. We know just about everyone, we grew up playing golf with them and it turned out I had no idea who these guys were. And that's completely wrong.
Lynch: Have you communicated with DJ about this since Saturday night?
Koepka: No, I haven't spoken to any player who has played in this area since then on my comments.
Lynch: Do you intend to specifically contact DJ?
Koepka: It's not something I plan to do.
Lynch: Did the comments backfire? Did you put too much pressure on yourself to back it up on Sunday?
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Koepka: Obviously, a lot has come. I don't care about the pressure of that kind of thing. I put more pressure on myself than anything outside. At the same time, I didn't save it. That's my own problem. Part of being someone who speaks openly and honestly is that sometimes I feel arrogant or arrogant, and it can backfire if you're not going to play well. That is exactly what happened.
Lynch: Were you shocked at how badly you played?
Koepka: Yeah. I was stunned by the bogey at 2 and others at 7, 8 and 9. By that time, I was already out of my mind. I was just trying to cheer on Paul [Casey] because he had a chance to win and my shot was long gone.
Lynch: Based on the conversation on social media, half of golf fans seem to like you as a competitive beast and the other half you don't like like a moron. Do you agree with that?
Koepka: I think there are layers to this question. I'm not a typical golfer. I don't know how to say that. We didn't belong to fancy country clubs. I'm not someone who can't wait to play these exclusive courses across the country. It's not "ooh" and I'm impressed like the others...
Lynch: Are you an unsuitable on the PGA Tour?
Koepka: I don't know if I'd say unsuitable, but it's definitely not my perfect place, I'd say so.
Lynch: Do you have trouble with the idea of golf as a gentleman's game where criticizing, tweaking or even joking with other players can elicit an overreaction?
Koepka: To some extent. I was portrayed as the bad guy, right? I'm different, super competitive, feisty. My idea of talking about waste is very different from other people's. I understand the whole villain thing and I can certainly play it, and I like you saw it with the whole Brandel [Chamblee] thing. Don't be afraid to tweet. But if you want to do this, you have to back it up and last week I didn't back it up. I agree with the implications of that. I have thick skin. I can do it.
Lynch: But there is a perception of you as fine-skinned and sensitive to criticism.
Koepka: I can see how thin-skinned it seems to a lot of people...
Lynch: You swing with every step.
Koepka: You should see a lot of them every time I log on to Twitter. There's someone taking a picture. It's professional sport. We're supposed to be able to bite our tongues several times. I also think the way I grew up is that we make fun jabs. My family, my brother, my best friends. My friends were talking in a group and I was watching text messages. When I made a bogey on the 2nd Sunday, they said, "Okay, put it away, he's done, get him out of there. It's over. 'That's how my personal life always is. It may sound brutal, but it is the truth. Sometimes being honest in my monotonous tone falls the wrong way.
Lynch: Does golf need more guys like you willing to enlighten it to engage more fans?
Koepka: I think so. We are in a different day and age. The only thing I've always said I have a problem with is that golf seems to live in the past. All other sports seem to evolve and progress over time and golf just doesn't seem to do that. Look at the football. They didn't dance in the end zone, sign footballs or take phones out of their pockets 40 years ago. I fully understand that there will be people who will not like that and I respect that. I'm cool with that.
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Lynch: Rory McIlroy was one of many people who thought your comment was disrespectful to DJ and the other guys in the standings. What's your answer?
Koepka: When I speak, it's always the truth. And Rory didn't say anything wrong. He was quite honest and I have no problem with that. I didn't see it as a hit. My comment wasn't either, I wasn't really going after the guy. Golf is obviously more of a respectful sport, so you don't have to talk completely about garbage. It just doesn't seem like a straight hook, but I see how people can perceive that.
Lynch: Will the backlash about it make you rethink being frank in the future or are you just going to be honest with you?
Koepka: One of the things I've always loved about people is whether they really are themselves. When I first came out, I was very quiet, very reserved but in my personal life, if you hang out with me, I'm very vocal, I like to chat and I have no problem doing it and taking it. That's not what I am anymore and I don't want to change for anyone. I'm always going to be me. I can't be anyone else and it suits me if people aren't fans of it.
Lynch: This looks like an alibi in advance for the offense you might give in the future.
Koepka: I don't think so. There are times when I called people and I always said that if I did something wrong, call me. That's where a lot of people were offended. I understand that we are in a difficult time and I think people are a little too sensitive anyway. If it was really offensive, I have no problem with people coming up to me and saying that. I can take it. I'm a big boy and a professional. If everyone thinks it's a mistake, so be it.
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