BOZICH | Will Brooks Koepka's PGA game be as strong as his Instagram game? | Sports

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Brooks Koepka did 13 minutes and 10 seconds in the PGA Championship media tent Wednesday afternoon, previewing his attempt to win this major tournament for the fourth time since 2018.

He explained his embarrassing performance (tied for 45th place) at the 2024 Masters. He complimented Churchill Downs for hosting the PGA Champions dinner Tuesday night. He said that one day he would love to attend the Kentucky Derby.

He praised the condition and difficulty of Valhalla Golf Club, where golf’s second major championship of 2024 will unfold over the next four days, beginning Thursday morning.

Koepka was insightful, informative and entertaining.

But this being 2024, none of the answers to the 19 questions Koepka was asked will kick up as many international headlines and web-hits as an Instagram post Koepka made Tuesday afternoon.

Never mind which player will do a better job of keeping the golf ball in the fairway. Inquiring minds wonder if Koepka shared a bikini photograph of his wife, Jena Sims, on Instagram to troll one of his top PGA competitors: Rory McIlroy.

Koepka’s post came hours after TMZ broke the news that McIlroy filed for divorce from his wife, Erica Stoll, on Monday. Koepka said he was congratulating his wife on making the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition.

Social media wondered. It went into overdrive after McIlroy’s former fiance’, Caroline Wozniacki, commented on Koepka’s post.

And you thought the most interesting thing these players discussed was Valhalla’s switch to zoysia grass?

In one corner, wearing a cream colored hoodie and a white Nike baseball cap, was McIlroy, who won the PGA Championship here in 2014.

That was the last time this major was played at Valhalla. That was also not long after McIlroy split from Wozniacki. McIlroy has been the most outspoken and loyal proponent of the PGA Tour, which lost a string of top players to the competing LIV Golf Tour.

In the other corner, wearing a tangerine-colored polo shirt and white Nike hat, was Koepka. He took the Saudi Arabian money, reportedly $100 million guaranteed over four years, and ran to the LIV circuit, where he has won four times and established himself as one of the top players.

Koepka’s win at the 2023 PGA Championship at the prestigious Oak Hill Country Club in Pittstown, New York, gave LIV a needed public relations boost that one of its regulars can win a major title after prepping on the less demanding (54-hole) LIV circuit.

Oddsmakers for ESPN set Masters champion Scottie Scheffler as the PGA favorite, followed by McIlroy, followed by Koepka.

The defending champion was asked if he was “excited” by the opportunity to compete against Scheffler and McIlroy, two PGA loyalists.

“I mean, I’m just looking forward to a major championship,” Koepka said. “That kind of gets my excitement going. Something I look forward to all year.

“So, yeah, I always enjoy competing against these guys. Any time you get the best, it’s always good. You just want them to play their best, too. You want to go out and win it.”

Koepka did not go out and win it at Augusta National in April. He failed to shoot under par over any of his four rounds, finishing nine-over, 20 strokes behind Scheffler and five behind McIlroy.

He was not pleased. Ara Suppiah, his personal trainer, was less pleased. Koepka was compelled to apologize for his performance, and Suppiah took it from there.

“I walked in and Ara just told me that you finished 45th, you’re going to get penalized,” Koepka said. “I think I had like four or five days in a row of just (training). I turned white. I wanted to throw up in a few of them. But, yeah, got through it.”

Got through it with gusto, Koepka responded with a ninth-place finish at the LIV event at Adelaide (Australia) in late April and then won a tournament in Singapore the first weekend in May.

This one matters to Koepka.

“The majors are different than everything else,” he said. “... They just have a different feel than any other golf tournament.

“I’ve always enjoyed it and they are always tougher golf courses. That’s something I get up for … I think (Valhalla) is a great golf course. You can tell by the past champions.”

The past champions at Valhalla, of course, are Mark Brooks (1996), Tiger Woods (2000) and McIlroy (2014). Koepka seemed eager to add his name to that list.

Koepka has won two U.S. Opens in addition to his wins in the 2018, 2019 and 2023 PGAs. Among active players, only Woods (15) and Phil Mickelson (six) have won more majors.

I asked Koepka if he had a reason why he has played so well in this event.

“I don’t know, man,” he said. “I just like majors.”

Maybe Brooks Koepka can put that on Instagram.