Koepka’s back? Who cares?
Just a few thoughts on your article regarding Brooks Koepka’s return to the PGA Tour (“Koepka’s readmittance signals new day for PGA Tour,” Jan. 19, GGP). First, in reality, it’s a big “who cares” issue. Koepka has been largely irrelevant for nearly three years. I can’t imagine he will be much added value to the tour other than with his name.
Second, does it really surprise anyone that Kopeka was not a great fit in a team situation? This guy clearly is not a team player and could care less about other players. That actually probably was an asset to him in the majors as he’s proven.
Lastly, although you mentioned most of the public has grown tired of the PGA Tour vs. LIV fight, I find it amusing that many LIV haters are taking cheap shots at LIV because a guy (who didn’t even finish in the top 25 on the LIV money list) who took the money and ran to LIV is now being allowed back to the PGA Tour. And the financial penalties, although not insignificant, are never gonna change the life of a guy who’s already bagged untold millions.
Lee Howard
Atlanta, Georgia
Travel, teams are LIV minuses
When you look at LIV Golf’s schedule, the players who left the PGA Tour for it can’t be happy (“Koepka’s readmittance signals new day for PGA Tour,” Jan. 19, GGP). Yes they received a boatload of money, which is now available on the PGA Tour. But they were convinced they would play less. Now LIV has gone to 72 holes, plus the travel has to be a killer regardless of flying private. A tournament in the Middle East followed by one in Australia, then Hong Kong and Singapore can’t be fun, with all the different time zones.
Plus this team concept will not fly in the U.S.A. We root for teams based on where we live or that we watched as a child. I couldn’t care less who wins among the LIV Golf teams.
Rich Maddalena
Port St. Lucie, Florida
LIV defectors should live with decision
Your piece is a good reflection of the divide between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour (“Koepka’s readmittance signals new day for PGA Tour,” Jan. 19, GGP). I think if I had my say in the matter I would disqualify the LIV players from any of the tournaments on the tour. They made their personal decisions. Let them live with it. If money is all that counts to them then so be it. Just my thoughts.
Bill White
Horseshoe Bay, Texas
Tour’s selective invitation didn’t work
It’s interesting the way the PGA Tour and its investors devised the criteria for opening a return from LIV Golf targeting only the players they wanted (“A costly conditional welcome home,” Jan. 12, GGP). By setting the window at the four years, 2022-2025, they were able to qualify Brooks Koepka, Jon Rahm, Cameron Smith and Bryson DeChambeau.
Had they used a three-year (2023-2025) window, Smith’s 2022 Players and Open Championships would make him not eligible. If they made it a five-year (2021-2025) window, Phil Mickelson, the 2021 PGA Championship winner, would be eligible. By going to four years, they invited the player they wanted in Smith and not the player they didn’t want in Mickelson.
Unfortunately, only Koepka took the deal. Nice try. Too bad it didn’t work.
Charlie Jurgonis
Fairfax, Virginia
Ball rollback is ‘unnecessary meddling’
The whole ball rollback is misplaced and wrong (“USGA, R&A reconsidering phased-in ball rollback,” Jan. 19, GGP). It has no place for amateurs whose average distances haven’t changed in years and even the pro game would be better served by having more creativity built into the design of holes rather than just making them straight and long. Interesting that some of the shorter holes with more design features often cause the pros more problems scoring.
Those that voice concern are probably more interested in protecting their legacy than legitimate reasons. I guess taking out characteristics that define length will only be replaced by more control and spin to cope with more interesting holes. The USGA and R&A will then be banning balls that assist with this. It’s an endless round of unnecessary meddling.
Let the game evolve and give excitement to those who play and watch the game. It is what attracts them in the first place, and believe me, it’s a hard enough game as it is so why make it harder? Fiddling with no reason or a power rush of authority with no legitimacy? They need a rethink – to implement would be a sad retrograde step.
Brett Allen
Jersey, Channel Islands
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