LIV Golf managed to add one of the most recognisable names in the sport to its roster in recent days, with Brooks Koepka confirming that he will be joining the Saudi-backed tour in time for their upcoming second event.
He is arguably their biggest signing so far. With four majors to his name and having a huge following in the States, the 32-year old is one of the more popular players on the PGA Tour. While he has struggled with injuries over the last year or so, there was an expectation that he would continue to be one of the best performers on the tour over the remainder of the decade.
Instead, he will be taking his talents to LIV Golf.
It was a surprising decision, especially when you consider that Koepka has always claimed that his only goal in golf was to win the biggest prizes available. In fact, as recently as February he suggested that any player who made the move was being purely motivated by money.
"Everyone talks about money. They've got enough of it. I don't see it backing down, they can just double up, and they'll figure it out," he said at the time.
"They'll get their guys. Somebody will sell out and go to it."
It turns out that Koepka also had his price, with rumours of a $150million signing on fee being suggested. That is before you even go into the prize money that is available at the events themselves.
Nick Faldo sends warning to Brooks Koepka after LIV Golf move
Plenty have already spoken out against Koepka's decision to move to LIV Golf, with Nick Faldo making some interesting comments yesterday.
Speaking on CBS last night, he suggested that the American had all but abandoned his roots by joining the tour. Having made his name in the game the hard way via the Asian and European tours before finding real success, Faldo suggested he was going to feel rather unfulfilled by what awaited him on his new schedule.
Here is @NickFaldo006 talking about @BKoepka’s move to LIV on the @TravelersChamp broadcast. pic.twitter.com/5quDp2fw5r
— Geoff Shackelford (@GeoffShac) June 25, 2022
He's a wonderful example of the challenge of playing the tour.
We have one thing called missing the cut, which is something they suddenly don't like. But that's part of our sport, to commit to an event.
Brooks is a wonderful example. He started on the Asian Tour, then he wins in Europe, we were there on CBS to watch him win in Phoenix (his first PGA Tour win in 2015), he wins four majors, has climbed his way up.
Last week he was saying 'get out of my face, all I want to do is play golf and go and win'. Then suddenly, somebody hits his number and off he goes.
I'm really surprised with that. It's a boatload of cash, but it's a boatload of mandatory personal appearances and that sort of thing that they will be doing (on LIV Golf). I'm sure he's going to find that that gets old very quickly.
The other very important thing is enjoyment. You can't be standing on a golf course and thinking of other reasons why I'm out here. You just can't fake that. It's an important thing in life to know what you're out there for and you think 'I'm loving this'.
I can't see how these think that.
Brooks Koepka was always one to speak up about the importance of winning the biggest prizes in golf, but he might have to abandon those ambitions in his early 30s after the move to LIV Golf.
It seems more and more players are willing to trade off that opportunity and the moral quandaries of going into business with Saudi Arabia in order to take advantage of the money on offer.
SEE ALSO: Rory McIlroy Calls On Players To Earn Their Money Amid LIV Golf Exodus
