Brooks Koepka told to drop out of Ryder Cup by Paul Azinger after complaining about team format of tournament
PAUL AZINGER has told Brooks Koepka to give his American Ryder Cup spot to someone else if he doesn’t love the team.
The former US Ryder Cup captain questioned Koepka’s commitment to his American colleagues after he expressed doubts about the team format of the competition.
Koepka doesn’t reckon he should be punished when someone else misses their shot if he does well on his, making it clear he sees himself more as an individual.
His comments rubbed Azinger the wrong way who thinks if Koepka – wrist injury that forced him out of the Tour Championship – doesn’t want to embrace the team element, other players will.
The 61-year-old, who led the US to their first Ryder Cup victory in 2008 since 1999 said to Golf.com: “I’m not sure he loves the Ryder Cup that much.
“If he doesn’t love it, he should relinquish his spot and get people there who do love it.
“Not everybody embraces it. But if you don’t love it, and you’re not sold out, then I think Brooks — especially being hurt — should consider whether or not he really wants to be there.
Koepka will have to make his decision quite soon if he plans to leave the team, as the Ryder Cup gets underway on September 24.
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But if he does decide to crack on and embrace the USA’s team spirit, then they should get the best of Koepka, who revealed he’s a changed man since meeting fiancee Jena.
The 31-year-old admitted that Jena’s played a huge role in getting him to change his wild lifestyle that used to include more dangerous sports such as skiing.
He previously told Golf Digest: “To be honest, there have been times when Blake [Koepka’s agent] has been like, ‘Bro, you need to chill.’
“Jena [Sims, Koepka’s fiancee] is the same way.
“Mentally, I still think I’m 21. But the past three years, there’s the realization I’m not that young person anymore who can go jet ski or wakeboard or whatever.”