LIV GOLF JEDDAH

October 13, 2023

Brooks Koepka

Smash GC

Royal Greens Golf & Country Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Welcome Brooks Koepka from Smash GC. Well-played, 4-under par, tied second after round 1 in Jeddah. You're returning as defending champion this week. Did it bring back some good memories for you today?

BROOKS KOEPKA: Yeah, I thought I played solid. I didn't birdie any of the par-5s, so that was disappointing, but 4-under in this wind, all right. Two three-putts not very good, but just hung around.

Q. Hole-out on No. 9, the highlight of the round. Can you talk us through that?

BROOKS KOEPKA: It went in. I don't know what else to tell you. It went in. A little bit of luck involved for any shot to go in, but it was a good shot, too, so it was nice.

Q. Brooks, you came in this week, you still have an outside shot at third place in the bonus. Were you thinking about that at all coming into the week? Did you look at the permutations? Do you care one way or the other?

BROOKS KOEPKA: No, just trying to play good golf. Couldn't care less. The majors don't count, so that's a big stick-to-ya. I know they do in the FedExCup.

I mean, on that front, it is kind of disappointing. I feel like that was the biggest win of the year, and it doesn't count for anything out here.

Q. I was speaking to Jason last week, and he was saying he's like sometimes your big brother and after your major win he told you to just enjoy this for a while and you were back out on the course straight away. Is that part of the brotherhood of your team?

BROOKS KOEPKA: I mean, it's very -- there's only three of us on our team, so yeah, I mean, obviously my brother, I'm pretty tight with him, and then -- I've enjoyed being around Jay for the last -- I've been pretty close with Jay for maybe the last three years. I've enjoyed being around him. He's a good player, super talented. It's been fun to be around him, and he's played pretty solid this year. Yeah, I can't say anything bad about him.

Q. The other thing you mentioned was the family life. Has that helped focus your golf?

BROOKS KOEPKA: It's definitely changed it. I think the first little bit I was not interested in golf at all. Crew was fighting for his life, so golf became very irrelevant for me for a little bit.

Now that he's doing well, I'm able to focus a little better, and it's definitely driven me a little bit to be more dedicated. I just want to show -- I know he can't see it right now, but show him exactly what hard work, dedication, practice -- if you do what you're supposed to do, it eventually will work out for you if you put all the effort in.

Q. In terms of your performance last year when you won here in Jeddah and your start off this year, can you tell us the comparison in terms of the promise of round 1?

BROOKS KOEPKA: Yeah, I can't remember where I stood after round 1 last year. I feel comfortable on this golf course. I feel good about it. I enjoy playing in the wind. When it's very difficult, I enjoy that. It's very tricky to putt out here. You might have some putts that are left to right but the wind is off the right and the putt ends up going right to left. It's very challenging. You've got to play strategically, I think, and position your ball really well, and I really enjoy that. I think that's why -- I look at the majors and it's very strategic where you've got to put your ball, especially coming in with all the different angles here, the pin locations and the wind.