The pair are playing alongside each other in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, and Tommy Fleetwood has shown his appreciation for Brooks Koepka in the past
Tommy Fleetwood spoke about Brooks Koepka’s move to LIV Golf (
Image: Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
Tommy Fleetwood showed his true classy character when asked about Brooks Koepka’s move to LIV Golf, opting to not spark more rivalry between the PGA Tour and the breakaway league.
The duo teed off together in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on Thursday – an event that also pairs elite golfers with celebrities and relatives. Olympic silver medalist Fleetwood will be keen to make amends at St. Andrews after accidentally injuring a fan with an off-target ball in the competition last year.
Former world No. 1 Koepka has previously been runner-up in the team event but is also seeking to win the tournament for the first time. The five-time major winner was among the first wave of players to join LIV Golf and claimed two wins during this year’s league season.
The sporting world was rocked when Koepka announced in June 2022 he was leaving the PGA to join the rebel tour, despite once slamming those considering the move as “sell outs”. While some in the sport were angered by his decision, ahead of last year’s US Open, Fleetwood chose to ignore the burgeoning feud and expressed his deep respect for Koepka’s talent on the course.
“Brooks is an unbelievable example,” Fleetwood said. “People should be studying what he does and how he speaks because he’s the best major champion of our generation so far.
“Obviously he’s one of the best golfers in the world and his stats when he’s playing the majors are phenomenal. However, you can’t always control how you’re going to play but you can definitely control the way you think and if you’re going out on that course with the right mindset then you’re giving yourself the best chance.
“I think listening to somebody like that, I think people should draw on that and I think emulating that attitude is something you can really make work for you.”
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Tommy Fleetwood has teamed with Ogden Phipps II at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship ( David Cannon/Getty Images)
Koepka reportedly bagged a hefty £99million signing on fee to join the LIV Golf series and topped up his bank balance with £54million in winnings last year, as per Forbes. That haul includes his second PGA Championship title, while adding another £8.84million in 2024.
Fleetwood has bagged approximately £19million over his career with PGA. The two-time Ryder Cup champion boasts seven European Tour wins, with his latest coming at the Dubai Invitational in January.
He nearly clinched his first major at the 2018 US Open, equaling the course record with a stunning final round of 63, but Koepka held on to his one-shot lead. Despite the heartbreaking near-miss, Fleetwood’s admiration for Koepka’s talent seems undiminished as they square off once more at St Andrews this week.
