Koepka fine playing in caddie’s shadow
PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland – Brooks Koepka boasts many of the weapons that have often led men to their goals in Northern Ireland: a sizable chip on the shoulder, leavened with a dry sense of humor; a savvy, popular accomplice; plenty of firepower.
The world No. 1 arrives at the British Open Championship hoping to continue what has been a delicious rhythm to his recent finishes in major championships: 2nd, 1st, 2nd. To keep that run going, and collect his fifth major title, he just needs to play Royal Portrush as well as his caddie has.
Ricky Elliott, who has carried the bag for Koepka since 2013, grew up in Portrush and has played the famous Dunluce links more often than he cares to recall. He boasts a best round of 65. His boss would pay handsomely for that scorecard on Thursday when he goes off at 8:04 a.m. ET with 2010 British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen and Shubhankar Sharma.
“Luckily my caddie has played this golf course I can’t tell you how many times, so that’s a big advantage,” Koepka said Tuesday. “Every hole I just step up on, ‘You tell me what to do, you’ve played it more than anybody.’ So just let him figure it out.”
Koepka has won four majors in the last two years, most recently a second consecutive PGA Championship in May, but it took one practice round for him to realize he has second billing this week in Northern Ireland.
“I probably hear more, ‘Ricky! Hey, Ricky, what’s going on?’ than anything,” he said with a laugh. “I’m sure he’ll have quite a bit of friends and family out. It will be a special week for him, for sure.”
Asked if the normally self-effacing Elliott was enjoying the attention, Koepka chuckled. “He has to be.”
Playing second fiddle to his caddie won’t become one of Koepka’s famous motivational plays for majors – seek out a reason to feel disrespected, prove offender wrong, rinse and repeat. Their friendship is too close for that, but Koepka acknowledges he still has that chip on his shoulder even if he doesn’t tend it with the loving care he once did.
“I think you always have to have a chip on your shoulder, no matter what it is. Every great athlete has one,” he said. “I just felt like if other guys had done what I had done it would be a bigger deal. Now it doesn’t matter to me. I’ve got my own chip on my shoulder for what I’m trying to accomplish. I’ve got my own goals I want to set, and that’s where I find I guess my chip,” he said.
So does that mean he now feels like he gets the recognition he deserves?
“I’m over that,” he replied. “I’m over trying to get the recognition. You either like me or you don’t, that’s life in general. That’s not anything I’m too concerned about at this moment.”
What he is concerned about is playing as much for Elliott this week as for himself. “Put it this way, I don’t think when he grew up that he ever thought there would be an Open Championship here. And to top it off, I don’t think he ever thought he’d be a part of it,” he said. “And to be caddying and to be able to win one here would be – he’d be a legend, wouldn’t he? He already is. But it would be cool to see him win.”
A win might leave Koepka stranded next week. He’s scheduled to play the PGA Tour’s World Golf Championships event in Memphis, but Elliott has joked with friends all year that if he’s drinking from the claret jug on Sunday night he’ll keep doing so until Christmas.
With a slim track record in this tournament – five starts, two top-10 finishes, never in contention – Koepka knows this week presents an ideal opportunity with Elliott as his 15th club, adding the role of course strategist to his portfolio of amateur psychologist and buddy.
“He keeps it light. He knows not to talk about golf while we’re out there. He knows if I’m getting a little bit tense, maybe upset, angry, whatever it is, he can tell just by my walk. He can tell, just body language, and I think that’s what makes a great caddie,” Koepka said. “And then under pressure he knows exactly what to say at the right time.
“I wouldn’t want anybody else on my bag, I know that. He’s been tremendous. He’s part of the reason why I’ve had the success I’ve had. And I love the guy to death. And looking forward to many years to come.”
If Elliott doesn’t show up in Memphis? Koepka knows he’ll have a good excuse.