PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

May 23, 2021

Brooks Koepka

The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island

Quick Quotes

JOHN DEVER: Welcome back to the 2021 PGA Championship here at the Ocean Course. We are joined by Brooks Koepka.

Brooks, valiant effort today, championship class and pushed right up until the end, but what part of this result is hard for you to stomach.

BROOKS KOEPKA: Just how bad I putted the last two days. Three days, actually. It felt like tap-ins I was missing. Never felt comfortable, and you're not going to win if you do that.

The thing was, Phil played great. That whole stretch when we turned after 4 and 5 and played those holes, it's into off the left for me and that's quite difficult for a right-handed player. And it suited Phil right down to the ground, and I thought he played that entire stretch from about 6 to 13 so well. So you know, I'm happy for him, Amy and Tim. It's pretty cool to see, and you know, but a bit disappointed in myself.

Q. That being said, do you look at this whole weekend how satisfying it is as a weekend considering everything you've been through and despite the disappointment today?

BROOKS KOEPKA: Yeah, maybe that's down the line. Right now, no, I'm super disappointed, pretty bummed. I'm not happy. I don't know if there's a right word I can say on here without getting fined, but it hurts a little bit. It's one of those things where I just never felt comfortable over the putts. I don't know why, what happened.

You know, I spent all weekend, the weekend before working on it and it was great, and you know, just over did it. I was trying to get my hands a little lower and ended up getting my hands too far low one under and actually ended up getting further away from the ball. The last nine, I just tried to go back to what I've always done and I felt like I was hitting better putts. I just wish I would have done it sooner.

Q. What was that scene like on 18 and was anything today reminiscent of the 2019 Masters when you were right there, also, T-2 behind Tiger's win? The energy seemed very similar.

BROOKS KOEPKA: I never thought of it that way but I think so. Yeah it would have been cool if I didn't have a knee injury and got dinged a few times in the knee in that crowd because no one really gave a s---, personally. But if I was fine, yeah, it would have been cool.

Yeah, it's cool for Phil. But getting dinged a few times isn't exactly my idea of fun.

Q. What is going through your mind as you're walking up 18 with all that commotion around you? You're incredibly focused but what's going through your mind in that moment?

BROOKS KOEPKA: Trying to protect my knee. I don't think anybody really understands until you actually you're coming out of surgery how -- I mean, even when I was doing rehab and there's five people kind of standing by your knee, you get a little skittish.

Like I don't mind waiting or being in that crowd but getting my -- I don't know, it felt like somebody tried to, I don't know what the deal was, but it's what it is. Be putting it in ice today. It feels like s--- right now.

Q. Mickelson has just shown that you can win a major at nearly 51. How do you feel about the idea that you might be able to compete and contend in majors for the next 19, 20 years?

BROOKS KOEPKA: Got to have two good knees first.

But yeah, it's cool. I'm super happy for Phil. Like I said, it gives you hope that you can -- or it gives me hope that, you know, I mean, I hope I'm still playing at 50, but to be able to come out and compete and actually win, that's a whole another thing. So kudos to him but it was really cool to see.

Q. The last few days, you said the knee has held up during play, 18 notwithstanding, what about today? Until then, was it an issue?

BROOKS KOEPKA: It felt great. Honestly, the knee really did, the knee was not an issue. I was able to push off of it and I didn't have one shot this week where I felt like I couldn't push off it. It definitely felt like the strongest it's been, probably up till the last.

I don't know what somebody was trying to do but if that didn't happen, yes, I would say it actually felt really good to be honest.

Q. Do you think somebody tried to purposely -- do you think somebody tried to take a shot at your knee?

BROOKS KOEPKA: I don't know, it got bumped a few times. Somebody jammed Rickie, Rickie stopped unintentionally because he got drilled in the face, and then I got drilled in the bag because he got stopped so quickly. But I don't know what someone tried to or what, I don't know what the deal was. There were so many people around.

JOHN DEVER: You're made for majors, it's obvious, what is it you'll focus on going up to Torrey in a month's time?

BROOKS KOEPKA: Going to take some time off -- what did you say three weeks? Four weeks? Yeah, take some time off, relax a little bit and start practicing again. Keep doing rehab. Keep doing everything I'm doing and hopefully come out and play well.

JOHN DEVER: Thanks for finding us all week and great job.