‘You Stiffed Me’: When Brooks Koepka Hilariously Reminded Phil Mickelson of the Time He Denied Him an Autograph

Many budding athletes often dream of playing alongside their idols. Only a handful are ever able to accomplish this, and Brooks Koepka is one of those few. Whenever questioned about his childhood golf idols, the 32-year-old mentions the likes of Tiger Woods and Adam Scott. But Phil Mickelson never made that list, and the reason was that years ago he refused to give Koepka an autograph.

Both Phil and Brooks are now rivals, and have recalled the incident and laughed about it, since. Koepka believed it to be very ironic since Mickelson probably gives out the most autographs of all the golfers. He said, “[I’m] probably about the only kid Phil’s ever turned down.” Brooks already has four Major Championships and is only two behind Phil challenging him every step of the way.

Brooks Koepka as a kid at the Masters

It was the late 1990s, and Brooks Koepka was only about 8 or 9 years old. His father had taken him to watch the Masters, and young Brooks went around collecting autographs. “I pretty much got everybody,” he said. Well, almost!

Koepka was sneaking into the players’ parking lots and getting autographs from them, and he eventually managed to find his way to the six-time major winner. “I tried to get Phil’s autograph. I was standing by the old range, and somehow found my way kind of right by the parking lot or something like that and asked him for an autograph, and he said no, and he turned me down. “

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In 2014, while practicing at the British Open, Koepka finally confronted Phil about the incident. “Listen, man, you stiffed me, and I really didn’t like you for a long time.”

Phil didn’t remember but responded exactly in line with what one would expect.

Mickelson responded by saying he shouldn’t have been in the parking lot. “He was typical Phil, right back at me. I shouldn’t have been there. “

Does Koepka have Phil’s autograph now?

It’s been over two decades since the incident, and it’s very satisfying that Brooks Koepka now does has Phil’s autograph. But what’s even better is the fact that Phil Mickelson has Brooks’ as well.

Despite their rough start, Mickelson and Koepka now have great respect for one another and have a nice and fun relationship. Both American golfers now compete head-to-head. They also faced each other in the finals of the 2021 US PGA Championship, where Mickelson beat Koepka by two strokes to win his 6th Major and become the oldest-ever Major winner.

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With both of them in the series finale of the LIV Golf Championship, which is to begin tomorrow. Will we get a faceoff between the two? If so, will Koepka beat Phil this time around? Only time will tell.