Earlier this week, in an interview with Golf Digest, Brooks Koepka claimed he wasn’t that into the whole Ryder Cup “thing.”
From not being able to strut around as a brooding loner, among other reasons, Koepka said, “It’s just maybe not in my DNA, the team sports thing.”
Today, in an NBC Sports/Golf Channel conference call to talk up next week’s Ryder Cup matches at Whistling Straits, Paul Azinger suggested Koepka should step aside.
“Brooks, when I just read that article, I’m not sure he loves the Ryder Cup that much. If he doesn’t love it, he should relinquish his spot and get people there who do love the Ryder Cup,” said Azinger, who captained the 2008 U.S. squad to victory.
“Not everybody embraces it, but if you don’t love it and you’re not sold out, then I think Brooks should – especially being hurt, should consider whether or not he really wants to be there.”
Azinger also mentioned the toxic relationship Koepka has with Bryson DeChambeau.
“Then if you add the Bryson dynamic to that, that would be an easier decision for him,” said Azinger, who will call the Ryder Cup Matches alongside Dan Hicks on NBC.
“Brooks is one of the most candid, most honest guys there is, and if he’s blatantly honest with himself and doesn’t want to be there, he should come out and say it.
“I don’t know, I’m a fan of both players. I just feel like it’s going to be one or the other. They’re going to put the weight of the team on their shoulders, or they’re going to be a pain in the neck.”
The 43rd edition of the Ryder Cup gets underway in one week, Sept. 24-26, at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin.
