Brooks Koepka admits he “choked away” Masters victory

Brooks Koepka has made his name as one of golf’s most ruthless major winners – but came up short when it mattered most at The Masters.

Koepka was an ice-cold, clinical closer when claiming four major titles and racing to the world number one spot in the official world rankings five years ago.

That is precisely why his admission on the Pardon My Take podcast that he “choked” at Augusta National is sure to raise eyebrows ahead of this week’s PGA Championship in Rochester.

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The resurgent LIV golfer looked back to his best as he contended for his first Green Jacket, leading eventual champion Jon Rahm by four shots heading into the weather-delayed marathon final day.

He looked destined for a thrilling Sunday battle with the Spaniard, but carded six bogeys in an uncharacteristically flat final round 75 and had to settle for a T2 finish with fellow LIV renegade Phil Mickelson.

Koepka, however, is not concerned by what he admits was a “choke” in the first major of the year.

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When asked if he succumbed to the pressure, a smiling Koepka said: “Yeah, I’d characterise that as a choke. It was pretty bad. I mean, come on you’ve got a four-shot lead, all you’ve got to do… I was playing good, I just choked it away. But it’s alright, I’ll figure it out.”

Koepka is aiming to put his Masters disappointment behind him as he chases a third PGA Championship title at Oak Hill in upstate New York this weekend.

He continued his promising form with a T5 finish at LIV’s Tulsa event last week and will play alongside world No.1 Scottie Scheffler and former US Open champion Gary Woodland in the opening two rounds of the tournament.

Ben Parsons joined bunkered as a Content Producer in 2023 and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.