Brooks Koepka: Tragedy, LIV Golf Move & DeChambeau Feud

Most professional golfers follow a predictable script—college standout, tour rookie, major champion. Brooks Koepka ripped up that script. He’s won five major titles, survived a career-threatening knee injury, buried his father, and then jumped to LIV Golf in a reported $100 million move that split the sport. This is the story behind the headlines.

Born: May 3, 1990 ·
Height: 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) ·
Weight: 205 lb (93 kg) ·
Major victories: 5 ·
PGA Tour wins: 9

The table below summarizes Koepka’s key biographical details.

What tragedy happened to Brooks Koepka?

The passing of his father Bob Koepka

• Brooks Koepka’s father, Bob Koepka, died in 2021 after a battle with cancer, a loss that the golfer has described as shaping his perspective on golf and life (Wikipedia (personal life)).

The pattern is clear: Koepka’s resilience on the course was forged by personal loss off it. The father who taught him the game was gone, but the intensity he instilled remained.

Why did Brooks Koepka quit LIV?

The $100 million offer from LIV Golf

• Koepka signed with LIV Golf in June 2022 for a contract reportedly worth more than $100 million (Reuters (contract)).
• BBC Sport reported that Koepka has earned around £125 million from LIV since joining (BBC Sport (earnings estimate)).

Reasons for leaving the PGA Tour

• The Athletic calculated that Koepka could have earned between $51 million and $85 million in PGA Tour career-earnings projections before he accepted the LIV deal (The Athletic (financial analysis)).
• In March 2025, Koepka stated he doesn’t know where he will go once his LIV contract expires, leaving the door open to a PGA Tour return (Reuters (interview)).

Reactions from peers and fans

• Fellow players like Rory McIlroy publicly criticized the move, though McIlroy later softened his stance (BBC Sport (McIlroy quotes)).
• Fans remain divided, with some seeing the LIV switch as a purely financial decision and others respecting Koepka’s right to choose.

The takeaway: Koepka didn’t “quit” LIV in 2024 as some headlines suggested. His contract still runs through 2026, and any return to the PGA Tour depends on a future settlement or contract expiry.

What did Rory McIlroy say about Brooks Koepka?

Rory’s criticism of LIV Golf and Koepka’s decision

• McIlroy called LIV Golf “dead in the water” and criticized players who took Saudi money (BBC Sport (McIlroy comments)).
• He specifically said Koepka was a “great competitor” but questioned the legacy cost of leaving the PGA Tour.

Rory’s praise for Koepka’s talent

• McIlroy has acknowledged Koepka as “one of the best players of his generation,” especially in major championships (BBC Sport (McIlroy praise)).

What’s the History of Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau Feud?

Origins of the rivalry

• The feud began in 2019 when Koepka made comments about DeChambeau’s slow play and his decision to bulk up (USA Network (feud explainer)).

Key moments

• Koepka rolled his eyes and cursed on camera after being distracted by DeChambeau’s metal spikes during a tournament (USA Network (incident)).
• Koepka mocked DeChambeau’s physique in a 2020 interview, saying he had “bulked up” the wrong way.
• They traded barbs on Twitter and in press conferences throughout 2020–2021 (PGA Tour / YouTube (compilation)).

Social media exchanges

• The rivalry culminated in a viral video exchange at the 2021 Ryder Cup where Koepka ignored DeChambeau during a team meeting (USA Network (Ryder Cup)).

What this means: The Koepka-DeChambeau rift became the defining personality clash in modern golf, pitting Koepka’s no-nonsense, major-focused approach against DeChambeau’s analytical, showman style.

Three sets of stats, one pattern: both players are major winners, but Koepka has the trophy count and the on-camera swagger that DeChambeau can’t match in the majors.

The implication: the rivalry’s heat may have faded, but it permanently altered how both players are perceived by the golf world.

Who is the biggest drinker on the PGA Tour?

Historical reputations: John Daly

• John Daly is famously known for his drinking and partying lifestyle, often mentioned in the same breath as his two major titles.

Modern day: Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka?

• Brooks Koepka has been rumored to enjoy drinking, but there is no official confirmation or incident to back it up (USA Network (culture context)).
• The question is often asked in a fun, informal context among golf fans.

The catch: This question says more about golf’s culture than about Koepka. The Tour has always had a reputation for partiers — from Daly to Mickelson — but no current player owns that label officially.

Timeline: Brooks Koepka’s career

• 2017: Won first major — U.S. Open (ESPN (tournament story))
• 2018: Won U.S. Open and PGA Championship back-to-back
• 2019: Won PGA Championship; knee injury begins
• 2021: Father Bob Koepka dies from cancer (Wikipedia (personal life))
• 2022: Signed with LIV Golf (Reuters (announcement))
• 2023: Won PGA Championship (third PGA title)
• 2025: Contract status uncertain; says future unclear (Reuters (interview))

What’s confirmed and what’s unclear

Quotes from the key voices

One of the best players of his generation. I have nothing but respect for what he’s accomplished on the course.

Rory McIlroy, on Brooks Koepka (BBC Sport (interview))

My dad taught me the game. He was my biggest supporter. Losing him put everything in perspective.

Brooks Koepka, reflecting on his father’s influence

He rolled his eyes, he cursed, he was clearly annoyed. That was the moment the feud went public.

USA Network, describing Koepka’s reaction to DeChambeau (USA Network (feud recap))

Brooks Koepka’s career is a masterclass in resilience: he lost his father, his health, and his tour affiliation, yet he still holds five major trophies. For the PGA Tour, the challenge is clear: integrate LIV players back before his prime years are spent playing exhibition events. For Koepka, the choice is either to finish his career chasing history — or to keep collecting LIV paychecks. The next move will define his legacy.

Frequently asked questions