Getty Image / Mike Ehrmann
Brooks Koepka was the only member of the invitation-only LIV Golf Tour to make the 2023 Ryder Cup for either team. Koepka won the 2023 PGA Championship and finished T2 at The Masters which was more than enough to earn him a Captain’s Pick from Ryder Cup captain Zach Johnson.
Author / golf journalist Alan Shipnuck has a new book coming out about LIV Golf titled ‘LIV And Let Die’. The book’s tagline is ‘the inside story of the war between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf.’ And though the PGA Tour vs LIV Golf war seems to be all but over after the pending merger, this book is certain to deliver some wild stories.
Those stories will also add context to a lot of what went on behind the scenes. A prime example of this came in the first excerpt of Shipnuck’s new book that was published on The Fire Pit Collective. In the excerpt, Brooks Koepka reveals his mindset in choosing LIV over the PGA Tour and how it was an incredible moment in his life.
Brooks Koepka On Choosing LIV Over PGA Tour
“Despite the relaxed setting, Koepka radiated some heat when reflecting on his career change. “F— all of those country club kids who talk s— about me,” he said, referring to the likes of Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth and others. “You think I give a f— what they think? You think I care what people say about me? I just had three surgeries, and I’m supposed to turn down $130 million? I grew up with nothing. After signing that contract, the first person I called was my mom. We both cried.”
It is hard to imagine 99.999999% of the population turning down the chance to get paid $130 million to do what they love. Brooks Koepka was coming off multiple surgeries, struggling on the course, and enough money was offered to not only change his life but change his family’s life and set up his family for generations to come. The moment was so emotional that he called his mother to cry about it.
LIV Golf: Paul Casey vs Jamie Weir
Another interesting story from the book came in the form of an exchange between Paul Casey and Jamie Weir at the 150th Open Championship. Weir had approached Paul Casey and said it could be his last-ever Major Championship because without OWGR points, Casey would fall out of the rankings needed to make the majors. This moment occurred after Weir approached Casey to ‘ask a question.’
Casey asked what the LIV question would be. Says Weir, “I said that he was 29th in the world but had just joined a tour without ranking points and would surely fall out of the top 50, so, given that, had he given serious consideration that this Open could be the last major championship of his career? His face darkened. He said, ‘F— off. Go f— yourself. What a f—— s— question. Go f— yourself. That’s a s—– f—— question from a s—– f—— reporter.’ I said, ‘Paul, you’re massively overreacting to this.’ He was like, ‘No, I’m not. Go f— yourself. F— you, and f— your interview.’”
When asked by Alan Shipnuck if that’s how it went down, Paul Casey said “That’s a fairly accurate recounting. But what is missing is the fact he sauntered over, invaded my space, and interjected himself into an environment where he was not invited.”
This book is going to be incredible. It can be pre-ordered on The Fire Pit Collective and it will be released later this month on October 17th.