Brooks Koepka fired shot after shot at Bryson DeChambeau last year, but after firing one at Phil Mickelson last week, Koepka isn’t interested in continuing the feud right now.
Mickelson attacked the PGA Tour to Golf Digest ahead of the Saudi International, saying he’s open to playing somewhere else – perhaps the proposed Saudi-backed Super Golf League – because of the Tour’s “obnoxious selfishness” in not sharing enough media rights money with its players.
“[Don’t know] if I’d be using the word greedy if I’m Phil…” Koepka then added five confused face emojis to a Golf Digest Instagram post.
The four-time major winner was asked to elaborate on his post on Wednesday before the WM Phoenix Open, in which he is the defending champion, but declined.
“I said what I said, and I don’t have anything further to say,” Koepka added. “You do whatever you want with it.” I know what I meant, but the choice is yours.
“When asked if he agreed with Mickelson on the Tour’s policy on media rights, Koepka, once again, remained tight-lipped.
“Look, man, I stated exactly what I meant to say. So you can go from there,” he explained.
When asked about Mickelson’s remarks, world No. 1 Jon Rahm avoided clear of controversy, but stated he respects them and Mickelson.
“Listen, I try to avoid those situations,” Rahm remarked in Phoenix on Wednesday. “I came here to play golf, and that’s all there is to it.” Phil has been on the Tour for a long time, and I’m not here to pass judgment on anyone, am I? Phil articulated exactly what he wanted to say. That is all there is to it.
“He’s still one of my best friends.” I’m not sure why he said what he said or how he said it, but all I can say is that as a friend, I support him, even if I don’t agree with everything he said. I’m a 27-year-old woman. I consider myself fortunate to be where I am in life.”
Along with DeChambeau, Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, and Henrik Stenson, Mickelson, 51, has been one of the players most frequently connected to the proposed Super Golf League.
If some of Koepka’s and Rahm’s competitors decide to take advantage of the SGL and receive a lifelong suspension from the PGA Tour, Koepka will not follow suit.
“I’ve been quite clear for a long time now that I’m remaining with the PGA Tour,” Koepka said. “I’m overjoyed. They, in my opinion, do things correctly. People with whom I’d like to conduct business. I’m delighted to be here. I don’t talk about it with many other gamers, either. They’ve asked a few questions, but I have faith in them.”
