Koepka fuming at US TV networks as defending champion is snubbed in adverts for the US Open

BROOKS KOEPKA has four Major titles and a massive chip on his shoulder after being snubbed in an advert by the US Open’s official broadcaster.

The defending champion is going for a historic third successive US Open title this week – a feat only achieved once before by Scot Willie Anderson in 1903, 04 and 05.

But you would not think it judging by the TV advert trailing Fox Sports’ coverage of the four-day extravaganza that tees off at iconic Pebble Beach tomorrow.

Koepka was clearly brimming with frustration at what he perceives is the latest in a long list of slights by the media.

Maybe it was his stony-faced demeanour in the wake of his first of four Major triumphs at Erin Hills precisely two years ago this week that made him easier to overlook.

But with an astonishing 50 per cent win ratio in the run of eight Majors – including back-to-back USPGA titles – Koepka cannot be ignored. Or so you would think.

Asked if he still plays with a chip on his shoulder, Koepka (below, practising on Pebble’s eighth hole) said: “Yeah, I mean, why wouldn’t you?

“You’ve always got to find something to give you extra motivation. Sometimes it’s blatantly obvious.

“There’s a commercial running now where I’m not even in it and Fox put it up for a preview of the US Open. So I don’t know. You guys tell me.

“There’s a couple of things where it’s just mind boggling. I didn’t see the ad for a long time. A bunch of people on Twitter tagged me in it, who I guess were amazed I wasn’t in it.

“I just clicked on the link and watched it. I was kind of shocked. They’ve had over a year to put it out, so I don’t know. Somebody probably got fired over it – or should.

“I put a lot of these chips on myself, like I tell myself I can’t do it and want to prove myself wrong. But at the same time there’s certain slights from things like that when it doesn’t make sense.”

It is naive to suggest the best way to make him impossible to be ignored would be to win again this week. If four Majors from eight and world No.1 status is not enough to make people take notice, what more does it take?

Well, changing his name to Dustin Johnson might help. Koepka smiled: “Dustin is Dustin. He’s pretty recognisable. At 6ft 3in, he’s always going to stand out.”