Brooks Koepka Says He’s 'Not a Huge Fan' of LACC. Here’s Why.
LOS ANGELES — As last month’s PGA champion and a two-time U.S. Open winner, Brooks Koepka was an obvious favorite to contend this week at Los Angeles Country Club. But on Friday afternoon, the five-time major winner sat nine strokes behind the morning-wave clubhouse leader, Wyndham Clark.
After posting a 1-under 69 on Friday, Koepka was candid not only about his poor play, but about this year’s U.S. Open setup, which already has produced two record-setting scores of 8-under 62 by Rickie Fowler and Xander Schauffele.
The George Thomas design does not suit Koepka’s eye.
“I’m not a huge fan of this place. I’m not a huge fan of blind tee shots, and then I think there are some spots where, no matter what you hit, the ball just ends up in the same spot. I think it’s more fun to play in just a regular round than it would be in the U.S. Open. Two [8-under rounds] yesterday, that usually doesn’t happen.”
Koepka is referencing holes like Nos. 3, 6 and 12 as some of the daunting blind tee shots that players all encounter this week. Plus, LACC’s dramatically sloping fairways and greens often funnel shots into the same collection areas.
Koepka’s comments were strong, but not totally surprising. Earlier in the week, he warned media of his preferences when it comes to U.S. Opens.
“I just love when I guess maybe somewhere closer to even par wins. If it's going to be a birdie-fest where 20, 21 under wins, that's really not the style. I really don't even think I've competed in many golf events over my career where that's happened,” Koepka said.
On Friday, when asked if there was anything LACC could do to increase the difficulty of the setup, Koepka was hesitant to admit that such changes could be possible.
“I think if you make the greens a little bit faster, but I don’t know if you really can. Then it might be interesting, for sure," he said.
Koepka might not speak highly of the exclusive country club’s design, but he was adamant in explaining that his qualms aren’t the reason for his lackluster play. The LIV golfer explained that he feels like he’s swinging it better than he did over the weekend at the PGA Championship.
“Oh, I’m actually playing better than I did at Oak Hill. I didn’t play that great Saturday or Sunday, I didn’t have it,” Koepka said.
“Just some dumb shots,” he continued. “Like on 9, I missed it in the only spot you can’t miss it, Little stuff like that, the scoring holes. Irons off the tee, I’ve hit it in the rough. It’s been frustrating, just little dumb stuff like that.”
“I’ve won majors on golf courses that I haven’t really liked that much. This one, I don’t know, it’s just not my favorite.”