17 February 2023 , 08:56
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The son of LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman has bluntly dismissed reports that one of the Saudi-backed series' biggest stars is on the verge of quitting.
Last June, amid a poor run of form, Brooks Koepka became the latest high-profile name to defect to Norman's rebel venture. The four time major winner then ended his barren run by coming through a play-off to claim the LIV Golf Invitational Jeddah tournament in October.
Koepka, 32, signed for LIV a fee just short of £84million, and is on the roster for their expanded schedule this year. The American will captain the Smash GC team that also consists of brother Chase, Jason Kokrak, and Matt Wolff.
But golf journalist Alan Shipnuck has fuelled a fire by suggesting that Koepka could be set to return to the PGA Tour having regretted his move. Esepcially now the star's issues with fitness and form have seemingly been addressed.
"I’m hearing a lot of rumblings that Brooks Koepka has buyer’s remorse," he said, on the The Fire Pit Collective. "He took the money when his brittle body was still being put back together, and in private he has confided to folks he wasn’t sure if he would ever get fully healthy again.
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"But now Koepka is feeling frisky and supposedly rethinking his career choice. The guy has one of the biggest egos in golf, and as the PGA Tour creates ever-increasing buzz with its elevated events and even the state-sanctioned TGL, Koepka has to feel like he’s on the outside looking in."
Greg Norman signed Koepka last June for £84 million (WME IMG via Getty Images)There has been no word from Koepka himself on the rumours, but when the link to the podcast was shared on Twitter, Greg Norman Jnr was quick to reply. "No. Bs" he wrote.
After winning in Jeddah, and emotional Koepka revealed he'd come close to quitting the sport over a persistent hip injury and other niggles. Losing one of the big name players would represent a hammer blow to LIV Golf and Norman Snr, given the underwhelming additions they've secured so far this year.
PGA Tour rookie Dean Burmester is poised to become the third player to join ahead of the season opener at Mayakoba in Mexico from February 26-28. The 33-year-old will join Chile's Mito Pereira and Colombia's Sebastian Munoz, who have already been confirmed as new recruits.