Brooks Koepka and Matthew Wolff infamously fell out last season, and after Wolff moved on to the RangeGoats, Koepka took a dig at his teams’ last of competitiveness in 2023
Brooks Koepka has issued a parting shot to his former teammate Matthew Wolff, after the pair went through a public fallout during LIV Golf’s 2023 season.
In a controversial interview with Sports Illustrated last summer, Koepka famously called Wolff a “talent wasted” and disparaged the former Smash GC star. “It’s very tough to have even like a team dynamic when you have one guy that won’t work,” he said in a previous interview.
It’s really difficult when one person doesn’t want to put in any effort, gives up on the course, breaks clubs, gets down, and exhibits poor body language. He has a lot of talent, but I feel like it’s wasted, so I’ve pretty much given up on him.
When Koepka said he was “heartbroken” by his captain’s remarks, Wolff answered right away. The two competed together on the breakaway circuit for six more events despite the fallout before Wolff eventually left during the off-season.
In one of LIV’s initial trades, the 24-year-old was sent to the RangeGoats along with LIV’s individual champion Talor Gooch, who was going to join Koepka and company at Smash. Naturally, Koepka is happy with the transaction, which brought in the league’s best player for 2024.
The five-time major winner is obviously pleased to have Gooch’s competitiveness in the Smash lineup, as he felt his former teammate lacked it. Koepka said to LIVGolf.com, “I hope [Gooch] thinks he’s the No. 1 guy on the team.”
That is advantageous. That’s my desire. That’s the lack of competition we’ve been experiencing. He is an opponent. He has grit. I hope he enters believing he is the best. I’m hoping Jay feels the same way. I hope [Graeme McDowell] feels the same way, because that will only encourage everyone to put in more effort and play better. Both their personal and the team’s success are achieved.”
The Gooch-Wolff trade, in which the former was the 2023 champion and the latter was having form issues, was immediately questioned by many. Bubba Watson, Wolff’s replacement as RangeGoats captain, has defended the choice and offered his support for the former PGA Tour player.
Watson declared, “I’ve always wanted Wolff.” “I think Wolff is a wonderful child and such a great talent. I knew this would be viewed as foolish by everyone. However, at the same time, I could have come across as foolish if I had taken a chance and come to LIV. It’s seen differently now, don’t you think? They say things like, “Hey, LIV’s not that bad,” after two years.
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