You don’t get to the top of golf’s mountain without dedication. Talent’s a must too, one that must be cultivated and refined. Mental fortitude, spunk, grit; all attributes needed to reach the sport’s premier level. But one thing you don’t need, apparently, is a love of the game.
Brooks Koepka captured the 2017 US Open in defiant style, winning by four shots and tieing a tournament scoring record in the process. The type of performance that defines a career, and could spur Koepka into stardom.
To hear the man himself, however, he’d rather win baseball’s World Series.
Speaking to Golf Digest at the end of 2015, Koepka’s true passion is with America’s pastime.
“If I could do it over again, I’d play baseball – 100 percent, no doubt,” Koepka told our Jaime Diaz.
As Diaz noted that, due to his build and habit of wearing a baseball cap off the course, Koepka is often confused as a big-league ballplayer. Moreover, the 27-year-old doesn’t find golf all that fascinating.
“To be honest, I’m not a big golf nerd,” Koepka continued. “Golf is kind of boring, not much action. I come from a baseball family, and it’s in my blood.”
He’s not lying. Koepka’s great uncle, Dick Groat, was an eight-time Major League All-Star, winning two World Series with the Pittsburgh Pirates as well as the 1960 National League MVP.
Koepka’s not the only athlete whose interests were piqued by other recreations. Cy Young Award winner Barry Zito enjoyed playing the guitar more than throwing the hard ball, while former Pro Bowl tight end Jordan Cameron made waves this March when claiming most NFL players don’t like football. Just because one excels at something doesn’t mean it has their love. To some, it’s merely a job.
So why did Koepka quit baseball?
“Could never hit a home run as a kid,” Koepka said. “Maybe I was too small, but it drove me nuts. I kind of wish I’d stuck with it.”
That’s right. Brooks Koepka, he of a 322-yard (294-metre) driving average this week, lacked power.
Of course, given the $US2 million payday Koepka’s taking home from Erin Hills, we’re guessing the sport’s growing on him.
