The year's final major will get underway tomorrow, with the best players in the world set to tee it up at Royal Liverpool for the 151st edition of The Open.
It is set to be a hugely intriguing tournament. Not only is the course an interesting one, but the anticipated tricky weather conditions will also add an extra layer to the play over the coming days.
Quite a few of the world's best golfer come into this one in good form, with the likes of Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, and Rickie Fowler among the hottest players in the sport at the moment.
You can add Brooks Koepka to that list. While his form can be more difficult to judge due to him being a LIV Golf player, he showed at the PGA Championship earlier this year that this will not be an issue when it comes to the majors.
The American has recorded four top-ten finishes in the last six editions of this event, meaning he will fancy his chances of getting his hands on the Claret Jug for the first time this weekend.
However, his grouping for the first two rounds at The Open probably hasn't done him any favours.
Brooks Koepka won't be happy with grouping at The Open
Brooks Koepka is someone who thrives when playing the game at a nice rhythm, meaning he doesn't have much time for those who slow the pace down on the course.
It is something he has spoken about in recent times, saying this earlier this year:
There’s a lot of guys out here that take their time. I think it is a problem.
Technically in the rule book it says you have 40 seconds to hit your shot. I think that’s what it is. If you are taking over, technically you’re breaking the rules, right?
So, I don’t know.
Never one to hide his feelings on the course, we could see him grow quickly frustrated over the next couple of days.
That is because Brooks Koepka has been paired with Patrick Cantlay and Hideki Matsuyama for the first two rounds at The Open, two of the slowest players on the PGA Tour.
(2/8) Patrick Cantlay, Brooks Koepka, Hideki Matsuyama pic.twitter.com/2YMwXdjOzT
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 18, 2023
Cantlay, in particular, has come in for some heavy criticism for his slow approach in recent times.
Golf fans found the whole thing to be pretty funny.
Oh my word pic.twitter.com/qkYv1rLNjL
— Joel Beall (@JoelMBeall) July 18, 2023
Patrick Cantlay trying to convince Brooks to play a 7 hour round with him on Thursday: pic.twitter.com/fVN5DvPkGk
— PGA TUOR (@PGATUOR) July 18, 2023
The Open putting Brooks in the same group as Cantlay and Matsuyama pic.twitter.com/OPpqe0fTEL
— Splash Sports (@splashsports_) July 18, 2023
Brooks Koepka paired with Cantlay and Matsuyama at the Open. Better start working on those meditative breathing exercises now.
— Dan Rapaport (@Daniel_Rapaport) July 18, 2023
There could be a murder https://t.co/cnhxFXpJ1N
— Donnacha McCormack 🏌🏽♂️💰 (@dunta90) July 18, 2023
Brooks may kill Cantlay by the time the weekend rolls around https://t.co/xOVhyfz0FW
— Matt Miller (@MattyMillz85) July 18, 2023
Brooks and Cantlay… https://t.co/PvDv9keFfg pic.twitter.com/cZASu13AbT
— Ryan (@RLCBFC90) July 18, 2023
They actually went there, Brooks gonna have smoke coming out his ears by the 3rd hole 😂 https://t.co/gR4lwIVAvx pic.twitter.com/LVNaOgd0xa
— Andy Stallard (@andystallard89) July 18, 2023
Koepka seeing Cantlay take his sweet ass time before every shot https://t.co/yBJjoxriIa pic.twitter.com/piuiOWqpsk
— Belly Up Fantasy 🏆 (@BellyUpFantasy) July 18, 2023
The amount of Brooks eye rolls/deep sighs this week will be at an all time high. 🍿 https://t.co/pRgAMS3Jp1
— Curry (@Curry_Franklin1) July 18, 2023
Patrick Cantlay has been criticised heavily for his slow pace of play over the last couple of years. Viktor Hovland grew visibly frustrated while playing with him at The Masters earlier this year, while Koepka himself would call him 'brutally slow' around this period.
If he endures a difficult start on Thursday at The Open, it will be interesting to see if he can stifle his frustration with the slow pace of his playing partners.
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