Brooks Koepka is keeping it completely real, and it’s refreshing

Brooks Koepka hasn’t always been the guy you look for to get a quick sound bite on the PGA TOUR. However, over recent weeks, he’s been voicing his opinions a whole lot more openly, and it’s a breath of fresh air.

Brooks Koepka is a world-class golfer, a player who’s taken a fantastic voyage around the globe to reach the upper echelons of the PGA TOUR. Still three months shy of his 29th birthday, he’s won twelve times worldwide, including three of the last six major championships he’s played. He’s a back-to-back U.S. Open champion, and he has held the No. 1 spot in the Official World Golf Ranking for nine weeks, going back and forth with Justin Rose.

And for the longest time, nobody really wanted to talk to him about much of anything.

Look, I get it. Media types have limited time, they’re working on deadlines, and frankly, they need to focus on copy that will draw eyes. If a writer publishes a 5,000 word epic and nobody clicks to read it, did it even happen? But even though he doesn’t get microphones shoved in his face as often as a Jordan Spieth or Rory McIlroy, that doesn’t mean he’s got nothing to say. In fact, these past couple of weeks he’s been abnormally outspoken by PGA TOUR standards.

Suffice to say, I’m here for it.

Over the past couple of weeks, Koepka has given his direct, unfiltered opinion on subjects that he feels need to be addressed on the world’s biggest golf circuits. Caught in the crosshairs have been slow play – specifically including Bryson DeChambeau’s pre-shot routine – and Sergio Garcia’s petulant assault of the course at the Saudi International. Some of the pot-stirring highlights are true gold.

Brooks Koepka, on slow play…

"“I just don’t understand how it takes a minute and 20 seconds, a minute and 15 to hit a golf ball; it’s not that hard,” Koepka told Michael Weston of the Golf Monthly Podcast. “It really drives me nuts especially when it’s a long hitter because you know you’ve got two other guys or at least one guy that’s hitting before you so you can do all your calculations; you should have your numbers.Guys are already so slow it’s kind of embarrassing. I just don’t get why you enforce some things and don’t enforce others.”"

On how to fix the problem…

"“I think it’s weird how you’ve got this set of rules where — you know, we have to make sure we’re dropping from knee-height, or your caddie can’t be behind you — and then they also have a rule where you’ve got to hit it in 40 seconds, but that one is not enforced,” Koepka told Danny Kanell on SiriusXM PGA TOUR Radio. “You enforce some but you don’t enforce the others.”“If we get put on the clock, it’s because we’re slow. Obviously, we’ve already broken the rules. Usually if you’re put on the clock, it’s because you’re slow. Guys keep being put on the clock, keep doing it and keep doing it. They’re breaking the rules but no one ever has the balls to actually penalize them. Just penalize them.”"

And finally, Brooks Koepka on Sergio Garcia’s Saudi tantrum…

"“That’s just Sergio acting like a child,” Koepka said in an interview with the Playing Through podcast on Tuesday. “It’s unfortunate that he’s got to do that and complain. Everybody’s got to play the same golf course. I didn’t play very good, but you didn’t really see anybody else doing that. I mean, you’re 40 years old, so you’ve got to grow up eventually.”"

To be fair, Koepka did get one thing wrong. Sergio only turned 39 last month.

In three interviews, Koepka took direct aim at one issue that the professional ranks haven’t been able to overcome for decades, leveled some direct criticism at one of the hottest players in the world (and many, many others), and wasn’t afraid to call out a generational superstar for being…well, a petulant child.

This isn’t just someone hitting Twitter to give their hottest take in 280 characters or less. This is a guy who’s worked his way to the top of the golfing world, and he’s giving his honest opinion on some of the game’s biggest issues. That’s refreshing in a way we don’t get to see very often.

The PGA TOUR is, for the most part, a very polished organization. Players don’t speak out often on controversial issues, even less so when those issues come home to roost. Everything is very well calculated to not rock the boat, especially when sponsorship dollars are as high as they’ve ever been.

I, for one, hope that Koepka’s revealed honesty continues, and maybe that it even starts to rub off on others. These weren’t exactly controversial thoughts, but with a three-time major winner saying what needs to be said, perhaps it will lead to more changes for the better.

We’re here for a more straightforward, open and honest golf community. Good for Brooks Koepka for speaking his mind.