LIV Allowed Koepka to Rise Like the Phoenix

No matter how you feel about LIV, Brooks Koepka’s performance at the 2023 Masters showed us that he’s still the 4-time Major winner that steamrolled his way through the fields at the 2017/2018 U.S. Opens and 2018/2019 PGA Championships.

But the truth is that last weekend’s performance was only possible because Koepka left the TOUR.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Brooks Koepka (@bkoepka)

Now allow me to explain.

After winning the 2019 PGA Championship, Koepka went from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows, starting with a torn patella tendon, moving onto a hip injury in 2020, and—after winning the 2021 Waste Management—dislocating his knee and while trying to push everything back into place, shattering his kneecap and tearing his MPFL.

Even without being able to identify his medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL), these all sound like very serious injuries, especially for golfers whose livelihood centers around their ability to walk over 7,000 hilly yards while repeatedly twisting and posting up on their lower body.

But perhaps the biggest problem with this injury is the TOUR’s imposition of all these required, high-value, elevated events and the pressure to come back and compete nearly every week of the year (particularly when things like the month-long FedEx playoffs, Ryder Cup, and President’s Cup are all factored in).

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Indeed, after the 2023 Masters tournament concluded, Jordan Spieth stated that he felt “fatigued” during the tournament, largely due to too much golf, further stating that “I played way too much golf in the last—I mean, this is eight out of ten weeks. So I need to change my schedule up going forward to be a little sharper this week. I think that has a lot to do with it.” Making things worse for Spieth is that he’s not getting a break anytime soon. Indeed, as the 2022 RBC Heritage champion.

And Spieth isn’t alone. Rory McIlroy, in fact, appears to also be feeling a bit burnt out. After missing the cut at the 2023 Masters, Rory decided that he would be withdrawing from the RBC. While standing alone, this wouldn’t raise any flags, the problem is that Rory skipped the Sentry Tournament of Champions, making the RBC the second elevated event he would be withdrawing from (forcing him to remit a portion of his PIP winnings). Meanwhile, we’re barely halfway through the season, and with 3 of the Majors still ahead of us (and fast approaching—the PGA Championship is now less than a month away).

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The case and point being that if guys who, by all accounts, are physically healthy are even feeling the wear and tear of the TOUR’s schedule, then how does the TOUR expect golfers who are trying to recover from injuries to make a meaningful return?

The LIV model—love it or hate—at least offers some solution to that by allowing players extended rest and recovery windows between events (as well as allowing them to play on other tours when schedules allow).

 

 

 

 

 

 

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While I think we can expect that the TOUR will need to make modifications to its schedule while simultaneously providing playing (and points) opportunities for the non-top guys. But in the meantime, the reduced competition volume on LIV provided Koepka with exactly what he needed: some time away from the game to heal, recover, and strengthen himself before the next big event.

I am a Kopeka fan, and I am thrilled that he’s finally back to form. But I doubt that it would’ve been possible (or perhaps be where he is today, rather than next year) had Brooks remained on the TOUR (which I hope he can find a way back onto if he so desires). And before people dismiss this article simply because of my fandom, I think it’s important to remember that what happened to Brooks could happen to anyone. Indeed, Tiger is an aberration—the man has competed with two fractures and a torn ACL. But I highly doubt, especially after seeing how his body is holding up today, that the Justin Thomas, Scottie Scheffler, and Jon Rahm’s of the world would expose themselves to that (and risking their careers in the process).

Doubt me? Well, don’t you think Will Zalatoris—who is just 26 years old—wishes he had more time to recover before reinjuring his back (requiring surgery) just this week?

Cover Image Via Reuters