Were Brooks Koepka’s Ryder Cup remarks a shot at his American teammates?

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Brooks Koepka spoke to the media Wednesday at the Ryder Cup, and one of his most interesting comments comes from a question posed by Doug Ferguson of the Associated Press: If the Ryder Cup came down to a single match on the course to decide it, I guess if you asked the 24 guys here if they want the ball, they would say yes. How many of them do you think really think that? “Very little,” Koepka said. “False confidence, I think. … “You always have to believe that you’re the best and want to be the best and have that drive, and that’s what’s going to put you over the edge.” I think a lot of guys have it, but I don’t know how many guys would want an eight-footer with that on the line.” Were Koepka’s comments an attack not only on the European team, but also on his teammates Americans? And if you were part of this American team, would you be bored?

Ryan Barath, Gear Editor (@RDSBarath): This certainly seems like a classic case of Brooks being Brooks and saying things that others might think, but don’t mean out loud. That said, I think his comments are borderless and probably reflect how he thinks certain players on both sides might react in a pressure situation. Not everyone can be Tiger and Ernie playing into the night at the Presidents Cup and trading blows with everything on the line, and if Brooks thinks he has that in him, good for him! As for his teammates, I think it’s not a problem, because every Ryder Cup player has confidence in him. Hell, Wyndham Clark said earlier this week: “I have a lot of respect for Rory, and because of that respect, I want to beat him too. I like to think I’m better than him and I want to prove it. In this regard, I think Brooks’ remarks probably go over the heads of everyone on the American side.

Josh Berhow, editor-in-chief (@Josh_Berhow): Although I don’t think he was asking himself, “How can I make my teammates angry?” I can see how some of them might have been offended by that comment, but it’s not something that would keep them up at night. But they could also just chalk it up to Brooks being Brooks. I think there is some truth to what Koepka said if you look at a normal PGA Tour field at a typical tournament. Some players have more of that clutch gene than others, but 24 of the best players in the world are currently in Rome. I think the majority of them agree on getting the ball back in a crucial match.

Josh Sens, Senior Editor (@JoshSens): I don’t find Koepka an easy guy to like, but his alpha-jock caricature thing is good entertainment. And when I say caricature, I don’t mean he’s pretending. For some reason, Koepka’s competitive mindset requires him to downplay others while neutrally boosting himself. It’s hard to imagine that this earned him many fans among his peers, but you can’t argue with the results. As for the other 23 guys, I guess if they’re upset it’s because they feel challenged. I doubt it bothers his teammates too much – at least not the ones who really want the ball. They’re probably rolling their eyes and thinking, “There’s Brooks again.” » On the European side, I think the reaction is more: “typical American braggart. Please let me draw him in simple so I can give him a whooping cough.

Zephyr Melton, Associate Editor (@zephyrmelton): Just more BK being BK. He built his brand as the most alpha (and sometimes arrogant) golfer in the world – and he tends to back it up with his play. This was undoubtedly psychological warfare directed against the Euro, this which is comparable to that of Koepka. And if his American teammates felt slighted by those comments, well, tough luck. If you are offended by this comment, you are probably doubting yourself.

Alan Bastable, editor-in-chief (@alan_bastable): I wonder if he feels the same way about his Smash teammates?

Nick Dimengo, Instructions Editor (@ndimengo): Is there anything more American than Brooks Koepka right now? He has the mullet. He has the audacity. He has a chip on his shoulder. And he has red, white and blue running through his veins. But Brooks has made a living being golf’s alpha male, and this is the latest example. I think about how Michael Jordan pushed his teammates in practice and how he was the most nagging, intimidating voice in that gym every day. MJ came up with a plan to challenge his teammates to exceed their own expectations – and Brooks seems to be doing the same here. If the Ryder Cup comes down to an eight-foot match, Koepka is essentially calling on his teammates: “prove me wrong.” I love it!