Heartbroken at fan horror
BROOKS KOEPKA has laughed at talk of a bust-up with Dustin Johnson but admits he nearly cried for the fan he blinded with a wayward tee shot.
The American opened his heart on the “worst day of his life” when he read stories claiming he is at war with one of his best friends and also learnt the fate of the woman injured by his stray tee shot at the Ryder Cup.
Koepka flatly denies reports claiming he and Johnson had to be separated during a boozy row on Sunday, plus claims of a conflict on the flight to Paris a week earlier.
Yet his frustration at those reports was the least of his worries when he reached out to the family of Corine Remande, 49, who has lost the sight in her right eye, leaving Koepka feeling “torn up inside”.
Koepka, in action today at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews, said: “This Dustin thing, I don’t get. There was no argument, no fight. He’s one of my best friends. We talked on the phone on Monday and it’s funny to us, but I’m curious who’d win in a fight. It’d be interesting. We’ve never fought. I can’t even remember raising my voice to him or him to me.
“Yesterday was one of the worst days of my life. I haven’t had too many tragedies in my family where there’s been a loss or accident. I’ve been lucky in that sense.
“I was heartbroken when told about Mrs Remande. My stomach sank. Yesterday was one of the hardest days of trying to focus on playing, knowing what’s going to come. It’s sad, I’m torn up about it.
“We reached out to Mrs Remande and her husband to see how things are going and we didn’t hear back last night. I’m looking forward to speaking to her because nobody feels worse about this than I do. I’m messed up inside. It will be the one shot I definitely regret, even though everyone from the Ryder Cup and PGA of America has assured me she will get the care she needs.”