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Khaleej Times
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
Disruption in Dallas: Brooks Koepka fined and suspended after ugly LIV Golf blow-up
Brooks Koepka, 35, a former World Number One and five-time Major champion, is one of the most recognised names in world golf. Despite showing glimpses of form at the recent U.S. Open, Koepka admitted that he has underperformed by his own high standards. He currently ranks 20th in the LIV Golf Individual Standings and 269th in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR). Playing in the LIV Golf League, Koepka endured a difficult start at LIV Golf Dallas, held last week at Maridoe Golf Club. His round quickly unravelled with a pair of early triple bogeys. Then, on the ninth hole, he pulled his tee shot left—and frustration got the better of him. Koepka smashed his driver into the ground before turning and striking a tee marker, which ricocheted into the gallery. He then stormed off the tee box. The disturbing moment was captured and widely shared on social media platforms, sparking concern due to the apparent risk posed to nearby spectators. Shortly after, Koepka withdrew from the tournament citing illness. He was replaced by reserve player Luis Carrera to maintain compliance with the LIV Golf League team format. While Koepka had the option to return for the remaining rounds to contribute to his team's score, he chose not to do so. The incident raised immediate questions: Over the weekend, LIV Golf released the following statement: 'We have imposed a financial sanction and a suspension from future LIV Golf events on Brooks Koepka following his conduct during the first round of LIV Dallas. Player safety, fan safety, and professionalism remain top priorities within our league, and this behavior does not reflect the values we expect from our athletes. The safety of our fans and the integrity of our tournaments are non-negotiable.' Golf is widely respected for its long-standing tradition of sportsmanship, decorum, and self-discipline. While tempers occasionally flare, such overt emotional outbursts remain rare—and when they occur, they tend to dominate headlines. There have been a handful of recent incidents involving player misbehavior in professional golf, both on and off the course. With growing prize funds, increasing public scrutiny, and razor-thin margins between success and failure, it's no surprise that emotions occasionally spill over. Still, the sport walks a fine line: it needs compelling personalities like Koepka to draw global audiences—but must also uphold its values and maintain discipline. The question now is where that line is drawn, and how consistent the Tours will be in enforcing it. We hope to see Brooks Koepka retur soon, healthy and back to his best—letting his clubs, not his temper, do the talking.
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Phil Mickelson Makes Major Career Announcement on Thursday
Phil Mickelson Makes Major Career Announcement on Thursday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Weeks ago, Phil Mickelson created buzz by declaring that the U.S. Open played June 12-15 at Oakmont Country Club would 'very possibly' be the last of his career, as his five‑year exemption earned by winning the 2021 PGA Championship expires in 2025. Advertisement The six‑time major champion, who turned 55 on June 16, hinted that a future return would depend on special exemption, qualifying or leading the LIV Golf standings (currently 15th). However, during his press conference at LIV Golf Dallas on Thursday, Mickelson seemingly walked back that sentiment. "So I said it's very possibly my last, and I think that's real," Mickelson told reporters. "However, I also feel like I'm starting to play some good golf, and I've had ... this year has been my best year on LIV. "I've had three top-six finishes and some opportunities to win. If I play like that in some upcoming major championships, that could ultimately qualify me into another U.S. Open." Phil Mickelson gestures to fans at the first tee during the first round of the U.S. Open.© Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images Mickelson believes his performance in the other three majors could earn him entry to Shinnecock Hills in 2026. Advertisement "I don't want to say it's my last," Mickelson added. "I actually think I'm playing well enough that if I can play at the level I've played at out here in majors again, I'll finish high enough to get into a U.S. Open via that qualifying avenue. "So I don't want to say that it is my last because I think I'm going to contend in the — I'm in the other three majors for a lot of years, and it could very well get me into the U.S. Open again." Mickelson, who has never won the U.S. Open but has finished runner‑up six times, missed the cut at Oakmont by one stroke, finishing 6-over par. He will tee off for the first round of the Dallas event on Friday. Advertisement Despite speculation that Oakmont would mark his final U.S. Open, Mickelson's tone has shifted. His remarks in Dallas underscore a renewed optimism, suggesting this chapter in his storied career may not be over, after all. Related: Grant Horvat Makes Revelation About Michael Jordan This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
22-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Minjee Lee of Australia wins the KPMG Women's PGA Championship at windy PGA Frisco for her third major title
Minjee Lee of Australia wins the KPMG Women's PGA Championship at windy PGA Frisco for her third major title
Washington Post
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Jon Rahm: Smaller fields make top 10s easier at LIV Golf
OAKMONT, Pa. — Two-time major champion Jon Rahm comes into the U.S. Open off another top 10 at LIV Golf, which is nothing new. The Spaniard has never come in lower in the 20 events he has finished since joining the Saudi-backed league at the start of last year. Is that a big deal?
Associated Press
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Jon Rahm: Smaller fields make top 10s easier at LIV Golf
Updated [hour]:[minute] [AMPM] [timezone], [monthFull] [day], [year] OAKMONT, Pa. (AP) — Two-time major champion Jon Rahm comes into the U.S. Open off another top 10 at LIV Golf, which is nothing new. The Spaniard has never come in lower in the 20 events he has finished since joining the Saudi-backed league at the start of last year. Is that a big deal? 'I would happily trade a bunch of them for more wins, that's for sure,' said Rahm, who has two LIV victories but has yet to win this year. 'But I keep putting myself in good position.' One of the criticism of LIV is the 54-man fields over 54 holes, especially with a half-dozen or more considered past their prime and several unproven young players. Rahm delivered some context on his streak. 'Listen, I'm a realist in this case,' he said. 'I've been playing really good golf, yes, but I'd be lying if I said that it wasn't easier to have top 10s with a smaller field. That's just the truth, right? Had I been playing full-field events, would I have top 10 every single week? No. But I've been playing good enough to say that I would most likely have been inside the top 30 every single time and maybe even top 25.' He considered that impressive, and he figures most of those would be top 10s. Rahm tied for eighth last week in Virginia without ever having a serious chance of winning over the final few holes. He said against a full field, he doubts that would have been a top 10. 'I think winning is equally as hard, but you can take advantage of a smaller field to finish higher,' he said. 'As much as I want to give it credit personally for having that many top 10s, I wouldn't always give it as the full amount just knowing that it's a smaller field.' DeChambeau and LIV Bryson DeChambeau says the contract he signed to join Saudi-funded LIV Golf is up next year and he's already looking ahead to a new one. 'We're looking to negotiate end of this year, and I'm very excited. They see the value in me. I see the value in what they can provide, and I believe we'll come to some sort of resolution on that,' DeChambeau said Tuesday. 'Super excited for the future.' LIV contracts are confidential and there has been ample speculation whether the Public Investment Fund will shell out the kind of signing bonuses that helped lure players away from the PGA Tour in 2022. Meanwhile, unification with the PGA Tour and LIV Golf appears at a standstill as PIF officials want any future to include team golf. 'I think that LIV is not going anywhere,' DeChambeau said. He said Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the PIF governor behind the rival league, 'has been steadfast in his belief on team golf, and whether everybody believes in it or not, I think it's a viable option.' DeChambeau believes LIV is going in the right direction and referenced the indoor tech-infused TGL as having teams making money. 'I believe there is a sustainable model out there,' he said. 'How it all works with the game of golf, who knows? But I know my worth.' Xander and YouTube Xander Schauffele might spend less time on his phone than anyone, usually only scrolling through the news. A few weeks ago at the Memorial, during a rapid-fire series of random questions, he was asked who he would take with him on 'The Amazing Race' reality show. 'What's 'The Amazing Race,'' he asked. So when he was told about Tommy Fleetwood's latest venture with YouTube and asked if he would considering doing something like that, Schauffele replied, 'Is that like a serious question?' But he has spent time on YouTube for a reason. Schauffele made his U.S. Open debut in 2017, the year after the Open at Oakmont. What better way to check out the course than watching a U.S. Open at Oakmont? 'I watched some of the '16 coverage on YouTube. I would have watched it on any platform that would have been provided, but I watched some of that coverage there just to see sort of how guys were hitting shots and how the ball was reacting,' Schauffele said. Turns out that wasn't his first experience on YouTube. 'I've been in dark places where I've looked up swing tip things on YouTube as well, trying to make sense of it, just like every golfer has. I'll confess to it,' he said. 'I'm luckily not there anymore, which is probably healthy for myself and my family. 'Yeah, there's a lot on there, I can tell you that much.' Rory and his driver Rory McIlroy expressed concern about his driver after badly missing the cut in the Canadian Open, his last tournament ahead of the U.S. Open. He said he worked at home over the weekend and realized he was using the wrong driver. And he was coy about which one he was using, suggesting that people could always go to the range to find out for themselves. McIlroy got plenty of attention with his driver when it was leaked at the PGA Championship that his driver did not pass inspection. It's a common occurrence, and testing takes place randomly at every major. Scottie Scheffler also had to change drivers after his didn't pass the test. He wound up winning by five shots. So was that a problem for McIlroy at the PGA Championship? 'It wasn't a big deal for Scottie,' McIlroy said. 'So it shouldn't have been a big deal for me.' The best honorary member Dustin Johnson had not played Oakmont since the won the U.S. Open in 2016. That's not to say he hasn't been back to the fabled club. Oakmont Country Club honors its major champions by offering them honorary membership. Johnson went back a few years later for the honor, going to a dinner and getting his green jacket (he got the more famous green jacket a few years later at the Masters). Honorary membership has its privileges that Johnson doesn't use. 'I'm probably their favorite member because I never come,' he said. Oakmont need not to be offended. Johnson was asked how many clubs he had honorary membership and he didn't bother counting. 'Quite a few,' he said. 'And I don't use very many, either.' ___ AP golf:
