Tommy Fleetwood discussed Brooks Koepka after his LIV Golf move (Image: Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
Tommy Fleetwood showed a touch of class when asked about Brooks Koepka after his controversial move to LIV Golf. The pair teed off together at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on Thursday, a competition that sees top golf pros compete individually, as well as in a pro-am team format alongside family members and famous faces.
Olympic silver medalist Fleetwood will hope to fare better at St. Andrews after notably bloodying a fan with a wayward shot in 2023. Former world No.1 Koepka is also aiming to win the individual tournament for the first time, having finished runner-up in the team format a decade ago.
The five-time major winner dropped the bombshell that he would be joining in June 2022, despite previously branding possible defectors “sell outs”. While many golf stars may have felt uneasy about the decision, Fleetwood refused to hold a grudge and, ahead of last year’s US Open, put rivalries aside to discuss how much he admired Kopeka’s game.
“Brooks is an unbelievable example,” Fleetwod said. “People should be studying what he does and how he speaks because he’s the best major champion of our generation so far.
“Obviously he’s one of the best golfers in the world and his stats when he’s playing the majors are phenomenal. However, you can’t always control how you’re going to play but you can definitely control the way you think and if you’re going out on that course with the right mindset then you’re giving yourself the best chance.
“I think listening to somebody like that, I think people should draw on that and I think emulating that attitude is something you can really make work for you.”
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Tommy Fleetwood is partnered with Ogden Phipps II at the alfred Dunhill Championship (Image: Getty)
Koepka reportedly received an initial £99million ($130m) fee to join the breakaway league and pocketed £54million ($71m) in prize money last year, according to Forbes, including becoming the first LIV player to win a major at the PGA Championship. He claimed another two LIV wins in Singapore and Greenbriar this season, raking in a total of £8.84million ($11m).
Meanwhile, Fleetwood has earned close around £19million ($25m) throughout his time with the PGA. The two-time Ryder Cup winner has clinched seven titles on the European Tour, most recently at this year’s Dubai Invitational.
The 33-year-old came closest to winning a major at the 2018 US Open, tying the course record with a round of 63 on the final day, but lost out to Koepka by a single stroke. It seems that heartbreak only made Fleetwood appreciate Koepka’s game more, though, as the pair prepare to battle at St. Andrews again this week.