Hypocritical Brooks Koepka roasted for gross Greg Norman money grab

Brooks Koepka’s former comments have come back to haunt him as he was ruthlessly roasted for joining Greg Norman’s new venture.

Four-time major champion Brooks Koepka is set to become the latest star to join the Saudi-backed LIV Golf series, media reports said.

The 32-year-old American world number 19 is expected to make his debut on the lucrative circuit at its maiden US event in Oregon next week.

Watch every round of The 150th Open Championship 15th - 18th July EXCLUSIVELY LIVE on FOX SPORTS available on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >

Koepka’s management team did not immediately respond when contacted by AFP on Tuesday.

But multiple reports in Britain and the United States said Koepka — who removed “PGA Tour” from his Twitter profile on Monday — will follow the likes of Dustin Johnson and six-time major-winner Phil Mickelson by joining LIV.

The upstart series, which is bankrolled by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and being fronted by Aussie legend Greg Norman, has plunged the golf world into turmoil since its emergence.

Koepka has been widely criticised for siding with LIV as old statements came back to haunt him.

The New York Post reports the American star was vocal at last week’s US Open — a tournament he’s won twice — in criticising those in the media who were asking questions about LIV, saying it was casting a “black cloud’’ over the major.

“I don’t understand, I’m trying to focus on the US Open, man,’’ Koepka, who finished 12-over and tied for 55th, said indignantly. “I legitimately don’t get it. I’m tired of the conversations. I’m tired of all this stuff.

“I’m here at the US Open, I’m ready to play the US Open, and I think it kind of sucks, too, you are all throwing this black cloud over the US Open.

“It’s one of my favourite events. I don’t know why you guys keep doing that. The more legs you give it, the more you keep talking about it.’’

Brooks Koepka is taking his talents off the PGA Tour. Rob Carr/Getty Images/AFP

When asked about LIV in February 2020 at the Honda Classic, Koepka shot down the idea that he’d participate.

“Money doesn’t matter,” the four-time major champion said. “It’s not something that’s important. I just want to be happy. Money’s not going to make me happy. I just want to play against the best.

“If somebody gave me $200 million tomorrow it’s not going to change my life. What am I going to get out of it? I already have (enough money) that I could retire right now, but I don’t want to. I just want to play golf.”

In February this year, Koepka suggested some players would “sell out” by joining the Saudi-backed rebel league and last November he appeared to turn his back on Norman and Co, saying: “Seems like there’s a bunch of stuff going on, but at the end of the day there’s only one tour I’m playing right now, so I’m only interested in that one.”

But Koepka appears to have changed his tune.

Golfweek’s Eamon Lynch ripped into Koepka, writing: “The decision to join LIV Golf represents a humiliation for Koepka, though he will be loathe to admit it. He has always fancied himself more an athlete than a golfer, but this is an admission that he’s neither, that he’s just an entertainer doomed to play exhibitions against the washed-up veterans and no-name youngsters that he’s long considered unfit to sniff his jockstrap.”

Andy Nesbitt of For The Win was equally scathing.

“Brooks has long made it known that he barely likes professional golf. He has bragged about how little he practices and how much he only cares about major championships,” Nesbitt wrote.

“So, he’s a perfect fit for this new empty league. He should be the spokesman for it – ‘If you don’t care about anything but yourself, come and LIV!’ would be a perfect tagline.”

Few performances have ever been less sincere than Koepka’s “how dare you, I haven’t even thought about this” routine at the US Open last week. Jena was more convincing and committed to a role in the Sharknado movie.

— Kevin Van Valkenburg (@KVanValkenburg) June 21, 2022

Brooks Koepka defending the PGA and openly hating LIV one week before joining LIV is not a good look for him.

— stephen perez (@SPerezReports) June 21, 2022

The LIV circuit, which launched in Britain earlier this month, offers some of the richest purses in golf tournament history, with $AUD35 million on offer at each of its events — roughly double the prize money of other majors.

LIV Golf has drawn stinging criticism from human rights groups, who say the series is an attempt to boost the kingdom’s image through sport.

The PGA Tour has adopted a zero-tolerance stance towards the series, with commissioner Jay Monahan suspending 17 former or current tour players for making the switch.

ESPN and Golf.com reported on Tuesday that Mexico’s world number 20 Abraham Ancer is also set to join LIV Golf.

If Koepka and Ancer’s defections to the tour are confirmed, it will mean eight of the world’s top 50 players are now part of LIV Golf.

With Matthew Neschis and Mark Cannizzaro, New York Post