While Brooks Koepka Looks to Continue with “Wasted Talent”, Will This 32YO LIV Golf Pro Fill in His Brother’s Spot?

A month ago, everyone wrote off Matthew Wolff from the Smash GC squad. Even the team captain, Brooks Koepka, himself. “There’s (sic) only three of us,” said the LIV Golf Jeddah champion. One month later, it sure looks that way, but it’s not Wolff who has his head under the guillotine. It’s Chase Koepka who has to take an uphill trek in the Promotions Tournament to secure his spot for the next season.

Notably, only the top three players from the qualifying tournament are lifted to the top tier. While the transfer window is in full swing, his elder brother has the option to fill one spot, as LIV Golf said the free agency will close once the top three spots are sealed. Amid the younger brother’s possible absence, an unlikely golf pro has made it to the forefront as Brooks Koepka looks to mend ways with Wolff.

Can Brooks Koepka and Matthew Wolff find common ground? 

LIV Golf revealed that Matthew Wolff is still on the roster of Smash GC. Piloted by the five-time Major winner, Wolff is set to continue in Brooks Koepka’s rocketship thanks to the one year left in his contract.

This also means the captain of the ship has to endure one more year of Wolff’s ‘shenanigans’. A prospect he was certainly not looking forward to a month earlier. Koepka had a public fallout with his teammate. “Wasted talent,” that’s how Koepka dubbed the 24-year-old American in a widely publicized interview.

Ironically, Wolff, who admitted to his mental health issues, has performed better than Chase Koepka. Sure, the younger of the Koepka brothers had his moments (remember the famous ace-in-hole in LIV Golf Adelaide?), but in the season-long leaderboard, he stands way behind Wolff (No. 27) at 48th place. Koepka’s best outing was at LIV Tulsa, where he finished at 26. Wolff, on the other hand, had two top-ten finishes, with his best outing coming in the Orlando event (5th place finish).

By being inside the Open Zone, he’ll have the chance to see out his contract with Smash GC. Reportedly, Brooks Koepka has not terminated the contract. But still, he has one spot left to fill out, as there is no guarantee that his brother is going to make it. Incidentally, that has given an unlikely LIV Golf pro a chance to enter the fray.

The Mexican who can enter the All-American squad

As per LIV Golf’s rules, players in the Lock Zone (1-24) have a chance to renew their contract with their current team. Carlos Ortiz (15), a member of Sergio Garcia’s Fireballs GC for the last two seasons, decided to explore new teams, however. LIV Golf, in their official announcement, revealed that the Mexican Pro has rejected a contract extension offer with his current team.

The 32-year-old had four top-ten finishes this season, coming in second in the Tucson event in March. His 15th-place finish on the season-long leaderboard also puts him ahead of all three of Koepka’s current teammates. Jason Kokrak, the only remaining team member with a guaranteed spot on the Smash GC roster, finished in the 23rd position.

Read More: ‘Embarrassing’: 10 Years Into Their Relationship, Brooks Koepka’s ‘Pathetic’ Attitude Gets Brutally Scrutinized by Coach Pete Cowen

Surely, in Chase Koepka’s absence, the 2021 Vivian Houston Open winner will be an interesting addition to the team. Brooks Koepka is surely monitoring the situation with a hawk-like gaze.

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