Is the window closed?
Many fans have been pondering that very question regarding Brooks Koepka and his game since the release of ‘Full Swing,’ the new Netflix documentary on the PGA Tour.
The four-time major winner left for the LIV Golf League last year after making some questionable comments at June’s U.S. Open.
“I don’t understand. I’m trying to focus on the U.S. Open, man. I legitimately don’t get it. I’m tired of the conversations. I’m tired of all this stuff,” he said. “Like I said, y’all are throwing a black cloud on the U.S. Open. I think that sucks. I actually do feel bad for them for once because it’s a sh—y situation. We’re here to play, and you are talking about an event that happened last week.”
Since departing for the circuit funded by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Koepka’s record is a mixed bag. He won LIV’s Jeddah stop but also finished outside the top 10 in four of his other five starts.
More recently, Koepka tied for 46th at the Saudi International and missed the cut by two shots (74-78) at the International Series Oman, an event held on the Asian Tour.
During the second episode of “Full Swing,” Koepka expressed his lack of confidence and ability to play alongside the best players in the world.
“I’ve had all these question marks for, like, the last year and a half,” he said. “‘Is he ever going to be the same golfer?’ Am I ever going to be the same? And I still don’t know where I’m at.”
He later added: “I’ll be honest with you. I can’t compete with these guys week in and week out.”
Brooks Koepka during the filming of “Full Swing.” (Photo: Netflix)
It’s tough to ignore the possibility of that very thought being the reason he left for LIV, a league filled with older players and unproven young talent.
However, according to Alan Shipnuck, the once world No. 1 may be looking for a way back on Tour.
“I’m hearing a lot of rumblings that Brooks Koepka has buyer’s remorse. He took the money when his brittle body was still being put back together, and in private he has confided to folks he wasn’t sure if he would ever get fully healthy again,” Shipnuck wrote in a Q&A earlier this week. “But now Koepka is feeling frisky and supposedly rethinking his career choice.”
If Koepka’s health has improved to a point where he could regain the form we saw from 2017-19, his return could be a great thing for the Tour. However, his departure could have been enough to burn bridges with not only Jay Monahan, but every player in the locker room.
And would Monahan want to set the precedent of unhappy players returning with little to no pushback?