LIV GOLF JEDDAH

October 15, 2023

Brooks Koepka

Royal Greens Golf & Country Club

Smash GC

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Let's welcome our LIV Golf Jeddah presented by Rochin champion and Smash GC captain, Brooks Koepka. Great week for you, a successful event at LIV Golf Jeddah. Just sum up this week for us.

BROOKS KOEPKA: It's been great. It's been fantastic. Anytime you can win, it's always a good feeling. Super proud of the way I played today. Felt like I was hitting good putts. They weren't falling, and then it was just a matter of being patient and hanging in there.

To make that eight-footer on 18 in regulation and then to birdie it twice in the playoff is pretty neat. Very pleased with the way I finished.

Q. It went to the second playoff hole to get the job done this week, but you were up against a worthy opponent in Talor. Can you talk us through the playoff, how you were feeling?

BROOKS KOEPKA: I knew it was just going to be a matter of time. I had to birdie it every time I felt like. Talor has been playing so well the whole year, all week. He played a hell of a round today.

I just felt like birdie was -- you had to make birdie, maybe even a 3 just to beat him.

Got super lucky, and I kind of had the same putt I did in regulation, which also helped knowing the speed and how fast it was. Super pumped for that.

Q. When you won here a year ago, obviously it was pretty emotional. It was kind of your return of Brooks basically. You've won three times since then. How different is it, this feeling, this win versus a year ago?

BROOKS KOEPKA: Yeah, I mean, I definitely feel like I'm back to my old self. This one is probably a little different just because it's the first win as a dad. I'm sure Jenna and Crew are watching. He won't remember that one, but at least I've got something to say, that I did win while he was here.

Q. Obviously you just learned that you got in that third spot there when you were on the 18th green. What does it mean to get in there and not edge out Bryson but get in there and again prove your own worth?

BROOKS KOEPKA: I mean, I really didn't think I had a chance. I don't know how many points Bryson had to have or to get, but I felt like I had to win, and I did my part. That's all I can do. Then from there, it's just up to the guys.

But yeah, super fortunate to kind of squeak in there. I mean, yeah, it's a good day.

Q. What was going through your mind every time you guys had to do the playoff?

BROOKS KOEPKA: Not again. I don't think anybody has played the 18th hole more than I have.

Just had flashbacks of playing Pete on that 18th. I think we went down four times last time. It makes it a little better.

I'm just tired, ready to get on that flight.

Q. Was there a moment where you were like, I'm going to win this, and what was it like when the ball didn't go there, when you just came close?

BROOKS KOEPKA: Yeah, I mean, I had that same putt in regulation, so I knew it was even -- to be honest with you, when I hit it, I still thought it was three feet short. It just kept rolling out. That putt is probably the quickest putt on the golf course, especially with the wind direction kind of coming from that direction.

I mean, I still thought Talor was going to make it. It was one of those days where I felt like today was -- he played better than anybody out here today, I think. What did he shoot, 8-under? That was the low score of the day I'm assuming. The way he played, I just figured it was going in, so I figured we were going back to the tee.

Q. You won here for the second time in row; was the strategy the same? Has anything changed from the first one and the second one in your head?

BROOKS KOEPKA: No, still the same game plan going in. Just stay out of the desert, stay out of the bunkers.

I like the golf course. It sets up really well for me. I played it pretty well in the past when it was the Saudi International. I just felt like I didn't -- the results weren't there, but I felt like I understood the golf course. I enjoyed playing it. I like this place; what can I say?