MASTERS TOURNAMENT

April 9, 2023

Brooks Koepka

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to welcome Brooks Koepka to the media room. Not the result you wanted, but nevertheless, on behalf of all of us, we would like to congratulate you on a wonderful tournament and wonderful week, clubhouse leader round one, round two, round three. Could you share some of the emotions that you felt during the last round and nine holes today.

BROOKS KOEPKA: Yeah, obviously it's super disappointing, right. Didn't play good enough to win. Hit some shots where I also feel like I didn't get some good breaks, the ball on 9; on 4 and 6, hit some good shots and just ended up in some terrible spots where it was quite difficult.

Then 12, it was just kind of interesting, Jon hit 9 and I hit wedge over the green. Then 14, I felt like I just had to make a run for it. Didn't feel like I did too much wrong, but that's how golf goes sometimes.

Q. You're a pretty fast player, as we know. Curious your thoughts on pace of play this afternoon?

BROOKS KOEPKA: Yeah, the group in front of us was brutally slow. Jon went to the bathroom like seven times during the round, and we were still waiting.

Q. When the lead became a deficit, what, if anything, changed with your game plan?

BROOKS KOEPKA: I think it was just be patient until probably about 13, and then we had to be a little more aggressive. I thought that -- I let probably 9 stick on me for a little bit longer than it should have because if this ball just dribbles on the green, it's tight. Then a good momentum putt on 10.

But it is what it is. I tried. Gave it my all, so I can go to sleep at night.

Q. Did anything feel different today than the last three days?

BROOKS KOEPKA: Not really. I think it felt the same. I feel like I was striking the ball pretty well. Poor tee shot on 1 but got lucky.

Then, you know, poor tee shot on 8, which is a big birdie hole, and I felt like that's kind of where the momentum shifted right there on 8 and 9, is what I felt like.

Q. And obviously not the result you wanted, but how do you think about this year compared to last year?

BROOKS KOEPKA: Well, I'm healthy so it's completely different. I just chalk that up to -- you've seen it -- if somebody's not healthy, they can't compete. I just wash those two years in my head.

Q. The shot on 6, curious, were you surprised it flew the green that far, and what is the second shot there?

BROOKS KOEPKA: Yeah, I think Jon hit 7-iron and he came up short, and I'm about a half-club longer than him with the irons. I hit a three-quarter 7 and it went over. If it was on the upslope, it would have been a lot easier. But the ball was sitting on a downslope and, for whatever reason, just kind of skidded when it -- I thought I hit a pretty good pitch. Just skidded. I was fortunate enough just to stay up.

But I felt like right there, that was kind of frustrating.

Q. I know you probably won't like the LIV questions, but with you near the top and Phil up there and Patrick near the top 10, what do you guys think you proved this week about the quality of play on that circuit?

BROOKS KOEPKA: Nobody -- I mean, we're still the same people. So I mean, I know if I'm healthy, I know I can compete. I don't think any of the guys that played this event thought otherwise, either. When Phil plays good, we know he's going to compete. P-Reed, the same thing.

I think that's just manufactured by the media that we can't compete anymore; that we are washed up.

Q. Following up on what you just said, you played well, Phil played well. From a fan's perspective, what do you hope this tournament and this showing does for the sport?

BROOKS KOEPKA: I think it's the best tournament in the world, and I think everybody put on a pretty good display. You know, Phil, what did he shoot today, 7-under? That's pretty impressive. Spieth, 6. P-Reed 4, Cameron Young, 4. I think me and Viktor were the only ones to shoot over par.

But the way Jon played today was pretty impressive. I don't know, the game, it's so good right now, everybody, it's amazing to see all these guys compete. When they are at their best, they are all tough to beat.

Q. Do you think this tournament and the proof of play from both sides shrinks the divide?

BROOKS KOEPKA: Repeat it? Sorry.

Q. Do you hope from the performance of everyone, both the LIV Golf and the PGA TOUR, that this shrinks the fracture in the sport from a fan's perspective?

BROOKS KOEPKA: Yeah, I mean, I guess it is fractured, I guess, from the fan's perspective. But as far as us, I mean, I think everybody saw it this week. It's nice to see everybody. There's no hard feelings pretty much. I think that's the way everybody should see it.

Q. It felt like most of the misses were left for you. And, unless that's wrong, what do you think was leading to that?

BROOKS KOEPKA: I just toed it on 1, trying to hold it. So that's probably never good.

And then 8, I guess, was left. And then 17. So I guess they were.

I don't know, man. If I knew, I would have fixed it out there (smiling).

Q. When you look at guys like Talor Gooch and Harold and how the World Rankings might be their only pathway back into these majors, what do you think has to change to ensure that the majors do have all the best players in the world?

BROOKS KOEPKA: I don't know. That's not up to me, man. That's a tough one. I don't know how -- I mean, yeah. That's tough. I have no idea how they are going to do it. It definitely makes it more difficult, that's for sure.

Q. You finished second before in majors that you've been near the top. Is it hard to view them as a positive when it comes after a day like today?

BROOKS KOEPKA: Probably not. Not today. Probably not for the next few days. But eventually it will be a positive. I'd say probably give it a week, and I'll start to see some positives out of it and carry this over to the PGA, the U.S. Open and The Open.

But right now, it's kind of tough to see, if I'm honest, probably for the next few hours and the next few days.

Q. Just along those lines, what positives could you take out of it going into the next three majors? Do you feel like you're back and now that you're healthy, you can win majors again?

BROOKS KOEPKA: Yeah, I think I proved it this week, no?

Q. Yeah, I agree.

BROOKS KOEPKA: I mean, I've known this for a while, but I guess it was just a matter of going out and doing it. I led for three rounds, and just didn't do it on the last day, that's it. Plain and simple.

THE MODERATOR: Okay, ladies and gentlemen, thanks again, Brooks, for a tremendous tournament. We've appreciated all your questions and answers in the media room, too, so thanks for your time.

BROOKS KOEPKA: Thank you.