[Golf Topic] 'Major Hunter' Kepka "Joining Saudi-backed LIV Golf Series"

[Asia Economy Reporter Noo Rae] ○…‘Major Hunter’ Brooks Koepka (USA, photo) is heading to LIV Golf, led by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF).

The British Telegraph reported on the night of the 21st (Korean time) that "Koepka will soon leave the PGA Tour," and the US ESPN also confirmed through an informed source that "Koepka is going to the LIV Golf Invitational Series." He is expected to participate in the second LIV Golf Series event starting on the 30th in Portland, Oregon. With Koepka joining, LIV Golf will have eight players ranked within the top 50 in the world.

Among players ranked within the top 20 are three: 16th Dustin Johnson (USA), 19th Koepka, and 20th Abraham Ancer (Mexico). Koepka expressed dissatisfaction about the LIV Golf Series just before the US Open last week, saying, "I don't know why these talks keep coming up," and "Such actions cast a shadow over the US Open," but less than ten days later, he chose to join LIV Golf. His younger brother Chase Koepka participated in the first event held in England on the 12th.

Koepka has won a total of eight times on the PGA Tour. Among these, he won four majors. He won the US Open in 2017 and 2018, and topped the PGA Championship in 2018 and 2019. Koepka will compete in the PGA Tour Travelers Championship held over four days starting on the 23rd in Cromwell, Connecticut. The official announcement of his move to the LIV Golf Series is likely to come after this tournament ends.