Page 13 - Jupiter Ocean Mile - February '20

Jupiter Ocean Mile, Page 13
Top-Ranked Koepka Commits To Play

In The 2020 Honda Classic

Brooks Koepka, the No. 1 player in the world for the The Honda Classic. His presence will undoubtedly create an I don’t view myself any different than anybody else does. I’m
past eight months, has committed to play in the 2020 Honda enormous amount of excitement at this year’s tournament.” just a regular guy. That’s how I’d like to be treated. I don’t want
Classic, a PGA TOUR event which will be held Feb. 24 to Koepka preferred baseball to golf as a kid but switched to be put up on a – I don’t want to say a pedestal or anything
March 1 at PGA National Resort and Spa. his focus in high school at Cardinal Newman. He learned like that, but I just want to be just like everybody else, just a
Koepka, a 29-year-old West Palm Beach product, has the game on the public courses of West Palm Beach, but was normal person.”
been the hottest player in golf for two seasons now behind not an accomplished junior player. He ended up attending The Honda Classic awarded a record-shattering $5.1
incredible performances in Major championships. Four of college at Florida State and blossomed into a three-time All million to 157 South Florida philanthropic organizations last
his seven PGA TOUR victories have come in Majors. American even though he did not win a tournament until his year, the 13th consecutive year that the PGA TOUR event has
Koepka, who last year tied for second with Rickie Fowler senior year. been able to increase its impact on the lives of local children
behind Keith Mitchell at The Honda Classic, won the PGA Four victories on the European Challenge Tour allowed and their families. More than 75,000 children and their families
Championship after finishing second at The Masters. He also him to graduate to the European Tour and also test the PGA benefited from the Honda Classic Cares initiative.
finished second at the U.S. Open and fourth at the British TOUR in 2014. Grounds tickets, Bear Trap tickets and other hospitality
Open. He was the fifth player in history to finish in the top “Going over there was a bunch of fun. It’s the best time tickets and packages for the 2020 Honda Classic are on
five in all four Majors. I’ve ever had playing golf,” Koepka said. “You become more sale at thehondaclassic.com or by calling 1-844-8Honda8
At the PGA Championship at Bethpage in New York, of a well-rounded player playing different places, having to (844) 846-6328.
Koepka overcame final day struggles in high winds to hold travel, doing that sort of thing. I felt like I was good enough
off Dustin Johnson by two strokes. The victory allowed him to be out here (on the PGA TOUR) when I was there. It’s
to supplant Johnson and regain the No. 1 spot in the Official just hard to get out here. I felt like if I just did what I was
World Golf Ranking. supposed to do and kind of dug deep and stayed patient that I
Koepka would have been the first player since Willie was going to find a way. Luckily enough it was pretty quick.”
Anderson in 1903 to 1905 to win three consecutive U.S. He made 12 of 16 cuts with two top 10 finishes to earn
Opens, but Gary Woodland caught fire to beat him by three his TOUR card for 2015. That’s when he put together
strokes even though Koepka was the first player in history a breakthrough season with his first victory (Waste
to post four scores in the 60s and not win. Management Phoenix Open) and eight Top 10 finishes.
Koepka’s 2019 accomplishments came after he won the Koepka had five top five finishes in 2016 before beginning
U.S. Open and PGA Championship in 2018 and the U.S. his Major run at the 2017 Open.
Open in 2017. He was the first player to win back-to-back Everything came together at Erin Hills. His 72-hole total of
titles at both the U.S. Open and the PGA Championship 16-under 272 tied the tournament record for lowest total under
and joined six others as winners of multiple titles at both par, which was set by Rory McIlroy at Congressional Country
tournaments (Walter Hagen, Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Jack Club in 2011. He had six additional Top 10 performances
Nicklaus, Lee Trevino and Tiger Woods). during the year to go alongside the Open victory.
At the 2019 Honda Classic, Koepka birdied two of his final In 2018, Koepka was the PGA TOUR Player of the Year
three holes in the final round on Sunday to post a 4-under 66 behind the U.S. Open and PGA Championship victories.
and claim a share of second place with Fowler at 8-under 272. Koepka has stayed humble despite his enormous success.
That was one stroke behind Mitchell, who holed a 15-foot “I view myself completely differently than people view
birdie putt on the final hole to win. me,” he said. “I still think it’s weird when I walk into a place
“Every golfer and fan in the local community obviously and I can see eyes are on me just for dinner. And I’m like,
takes great pride in what Brooks has accomplished the past what’s everybody staring at?”
several years,” Honda Classic Executive Director Kenneth R. “I just view myself as a regular guy, just like everybody
MorseLife-10.25x8- Seabreeze.qxp_Layout 1 1/24/20 12:58 PM Page 1
Kennerly said. “We are excited that he has decided to return to else. And I just happen to be really good at golf, and that’s it.

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