Brooks Koepka: “They’ve never had to deal with adversity”

Two-time US Open winner Brooks Koepka has revealed how he is able to fend off competition so well at major championships.

The LIV Golf rebel has become one of the most dominant figures in golf’s coveted championships and reckons his mentality separates him from other players.

Speaking to Chantel McCabe on SiriusXM, Koepka claimed golfers coming onto tour nowadays have not had to work for success like he has.

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The 33-year-old said: “A lot of these kids now have a lot of talent, but they’ve never had to deal with adversity. They’ve never had to deal with putting in the hard work, the hours, and the time.

“Sometimes when you come right out, whether you make the PGA Tour or whatever tour you’re playing, it’s very easy.

“You get a courtesy car every week, stay in nice hotels, there’s a lot of things that guys have never had to deal with and feel like they’ve earned it, sometimes it feels like they’ve been given it.”

"They've never had to deal with adversity"

Brooks Koepka talks with Chantel McCabe about why he thinks he's mentally tougher than other players.@BKoepka I @chantel_mccabe I @usopengolf pic.twitter.com/oEtJEZtMS2

— SiriusXM PGA TOUR Radio (@SiriusXMPGATOUR) June 14, 2023

Koepka is one of the favourites to lift the US Open this week, and a win would make it the second time he has lifted that title and the PGA Championship in the same season.

Earlier in the week, the American reiterated that he still aims to hit double digits for major wins.

That target was given a new lease of life last month when Koepka bounced back from crippling knee injuries over recent years, to hoist a third Wanamaker trophy.

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It had looked as if one of golf’s most feared competitors was on his way out, but Koepka battled through injury and admitted the need to earn his spot at golf’s top tables once again.

Koepka, who did a “really poor job” of recovering, amid hitting balls at Riviera three days after surgery, said: “I was very impatient and never felt good about being on the sidelines.

“That’s not me I don’t enjoy it; I want the competition.”

John Turnbull A graduate of the University of Stirling, John joined the bunkered team in 2023 as a Content Producer, with a responsibility for covering all breaking news, tour news, grassroots content and much more besides. A keen golfer, he plays the majority of his golf at Falkirk Golf Club. Top of his 'bucket list' is a round of Pebble Beach... ideally in the company of Gareth Bale.