At one point in time, Brooks Koepka was synonymous with PGA Tour and Majors. The nine-team PGA Tour winner had been a strong presence on the Tour, having clinched five majors in dominating fashion. Despite, the defection to LIV Golf in 2023, albeit for a humongous sum of money reportedly, Koepka still remembers the PGA Tour fondly.

In the first episode of Talking Smash, a podcast made for the LIV Golf team Smash GC captained by Brooks Koepka, the Florida State University grad sat with his caddie, Ricky Elliot, and remembered the fun times they had on the course. Most of the anecdotes were from their long-term assignment on the PGA Tour. Elliot well remembered one such incident involving Brooks Koepka starving him.

Brooks Koepka’s preparation for the ESPN Body Issue

This incident took place at the PLAYERS Championship in 2019. Brooks Koepka was looking to earn his first title at the flagship event held at the TPC Sawgrass. “The fourth at the Players Championship. I think you were doing some, and you were all in the working out, and losing a bit of weight and stuff like that there to look good,” explained Elliot, adding some context.

Koepka was the cover star for the ESPN Body Issue 2019 Annual edition. The then-PGA Tour pro was very excited about being part of the cover and mentioned that it was his goal to be part of the magazine. However, while off the field, his goal was being met, on the course, it wasn’t. Koepka was eating less than usual to get his body in perfect shape for the shoot, and it had begun to affect his game. “Your mind wasn’t on it for a few weeks because you were more worried about this naked photo shoot.” Elliot stated.

At one of the crucial holes of the tournament, Koepka tried to do his usual thing. “He’s skinned this thing down in the middle of the fourth, and the second shot is over water. Perfect number 120 yards,” Elliot recalled the shot.

But the brain fade moment came a bit later. Koepka seemed to have no idea what was happening and cluelessly asked Elliot where the shot went in. “He’s hit this thing, and it’s two hopped into the water and he goes ‘Where did that go?’ I’m like, ‘No, you got (to) start eating man’,” the caddie added. Koepka was quick to add sheepishly, “That was bad, I remember that!” An embarrassing moment for sure!

Sign up to Essentially Golf

Join 180K+ golf enthusiasts who trust our 'Whole in One' newsletter for the latest trends, exclusive insights, and all the big news in the world of golf.

Things were not always cozy with the duo, though. When you strive for success, there are bound to be some temper-flaring moments. The Northern Irish caddie has been on the wrong side of the nine-time PGA Tour winner.

Brooks Koepka and caddie at odds

The incident happened in Memphis in 2018 and the duo recollected the same although they see the funny side now. Koepka recalled the occasion vividly, “Memphis in 2018. I didn’t speak to him. We got into an argument, it was a lot of… it would have been great microphoned up during that two-minute stretch. I think I blamed him for hitting the wrong club even though I hit a good shot.”

Ricky Elliott was quick to correct the five-time Major champion, reminding him that the frustrations boiled over from a few holes before. “It started on the holes previous to that. It was, not my day, the usual stuff, and then he hit a shot down the middle. It probably should have been a three-wood, but he hit driver and ended up behind a tree. And he was like, ‘What are we doing here?’ the usual stuff caddies get all the time. It was just a combination of the last hour, I suppose. It just slipped out. I just said, could you shut the f—- up?” Elliot explained the situation clearly.

“It was a combination of about an hour, and I thought even if he fires me, it might be a good way to get out of here. Anyway, he chipped it up within 10, so we never said anything for the rest of the day,” Elliot revealed what happened after he cursed at Koepka.

However, to both of their surprise, the silent treatment worked. Koepka started playing really well after the incident and the pair decided to go with the old, ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ adage. “I was like, I’m not going to break the mould now, whenever these guys are going well, you don’t change what’s happening. You don’t start telling jokes when the guy has just birdied five in a row, you just keep miserable,” Elliot added.

The pair were waging a cold war then, but the incident has become a memorable one, that they can laugh about now. What a great duo!