Page 8 - Lifestyles in Palm Beach Gardens - February '20

Page 8, Lifestyles in Palm Beach Gardens
Top-Ranked Koepka Commits To Play

In The 2020 Honda Classic

Brooks Koepka, the No. 1 player in the world for the Koepka would have been the first player since Willie just did what I was supposed to do and kind of dug deep
past eight months, has committed to play in the 2020 Anderson in 1903 to 1905 to win three consecutive U.S. and stayed patient that I was going to find a way. Luckily
Honda Classic, a PGA TOUR event which will be held Opens, but Gary Woodland caught fire to beat him by enough it was pretty quick.”
Feb. 24 to March 1 at PGA National Resort and Spa. three strokes even though Koepka was the first player in He made 12 of 16 cuts with two top 10 finishes to earn
Koepka, a 29-year-old West Palm Beach product, has history to post four scores in the 60s and not win. his TOUR card for 2015. That’s when he put together
been the hottest player in golf for two seasons now behind Koepka’s 2019 accomplishments came after he won the a breakthrough season with his first victory (Waste
incredible performances in Major championships. Four of U.S. Open and PGA Championship in 2018 and the U.S. Management Phoenix Open) and eight Top 10 finishes.
his seven PGA TOUR victories have come in Majors. Open in 2017. He was the first player to win back-to-back Koepka had five top five finishes in 2016 before beginning
Koepka, who last year tied for second with Rickie titles at both the U.S. Open and the PGA Championship his Major run at the 2017 Open.
Fowler behind Keith Mitchell at The Honda Classic, and joined six others as winners of multiple titles at both Everything came together at Erin Hills. His 72-hole
won the PGA Championship after finishing second at tournaments (Walter Hagen, Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, total of 16-under 272 tied the tournament record for
The Masters. He also finished second at the U.S. Open Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino and Tiger Woods). lowest total under par, which was set by Rory McIlroy at
and fourth at the British Open. He was the fifth player in At the 2019 Honda Classic, Koepka birdied two of his Congressional Country Club in 2011. He had six additional
history to finish in the top five in all four Majors. final three holes in the final round on Sunday to post a Top 10 performances during the year to go alongside the
At the PGA Championship at Bethpage in New York, 4-under 66 and claim a share of second place with Fowler Open victory.
Koepka overcame final day struggles in high winds to hold at 8-under 272. That was one stroke behind Mitchell, who In 2018, Koepka was the PGA TOUR Player of the Year
off Dustin Johnson by two strokes. The victory allowed holed a 15-foot birdie putt on the final hole to win. behind the U.S. Open and PGA Championship victories.
him to supplant Johnson and regain the No. 1 spot in the “Every golfer and fan in the local community obviously Koepka has stayed humble despite his enormous success.
Official World Golf Ranking. takes great pride in what Brooks has accomplished the “I view myself completely differently than people view
past several years,” Honda Classic Executive Director me,” he said. “I still think it’s weird when I walk into a
Kenneth R. Kennerly said. “We are excited that he has place and I can see eyes are on me just for dinner. And
decided to return to The Honda Classic. His presence will I’m like, what’s everybody staring at?”
undoubtedly create an enormous amount of excitement at “I just view myself as a regular guy, just like everybody
this year’s tournament.” else. And I just happen to be really good at golf, and that’s
Koepka preferred baseball to golf as a kid but switched it. I don’t view myself any different than anybody else
his focus in high school at Cardinal Newman. He learned does. I’m just a regular guy. That’s how I’d like to be
the game on the public courses of West Palm Beach, but
treated. I don’t want to be put up on a – I don’t want to
Wine Lockers was not an accomplished junior player. He ended up say a pedestal or anything like that, but I just want to be
attending college at Florida State and blossomed into a
just like everybody else, just a normal person.”
three-time All American even though he did not win a The Honda Classic awarded a record-shattering $5.1
Just For VIPs? Not So Fast! tournament until his senior year. million to 157 South Florida philanthropic organizations
Four victories on the European Challenge Tour allowed last year, the 13th consecutive year that the PGA TOUR
By Laura Berrio, him to graduate to the European Tour and also test the event has been able to increase its impact on the lives
Freelance Writer/ PGA TOUR in 2014. of local children and their families. More than 75,000
Blogger “Going over there was a bunch of fun. It’s the best time children and their families benefited from the Honda
If you are passionate I’ve ever had playing golf,” Koepka said. “You become Classic Cares initiative.
about wine and like the more of a well-rounded player playing different places, Grounds tickets, Bear Trap tickets and other hospitality
idea of having a supply having to travel, doing that sort of thing. I felt like I was tickets and packages for the 2020 Honda Classic are on
of your favorite wine good enough to be out here (on the PGA TOUR) when sale at thehondaclassic.com or by calling 1-844-8Honda8
on hand when dining I was there. It’s just hard to get out here. I felt like if I (844) 846-6328.
out, wine lockers may
be for you.
There are some Retirement Know It All Offers
additional benefits,
other than convenience, in having a locker. Restaurants
offer locker owners assistance with wine selection from FREE Financial Lunch ’n’ Learn
in-house sommeliers, bartenders, and managers. Most
restaurants also offer a discount on wine purchased for
the locker and don’t charge a corkage fee. If you plan Joe Thomas is a local Jupiter, Fla., resident
business outings or big family events regularly this with 18 years here and over 30 years in the
can offer a large savings. Some restaurants offer locker financial business. He’s a 5-time qualifying
owners special invite-only events during the year, such member of the Million Dollar Roundtable.
as reserve wine tastings. And he brings you this expert advice on
Another benefit to locker owners is the ability to “The Retirement Know It All Show” on the ra-
customize a brass nameplate on the front of the locker. dio. He began hosting the “Retirement Krow It
This can serve as great advertising for your business. All Show” to educate listeners about investing,
Some restaurants charge a flat leasing fee for the year, their retirement and their finances.
while others just require a minimum spend on wine “I’ve been in the financial, insurance and
housed in the locker. banking industries for over 30 years, and I’ve
If you want to save money, get great advice on wine done retirement planning the last 18 years in
selection, and feel special and pampered when you go Palm Beach County,” Thomas told the Palm That’s what inspired us to say you’ve got
out, wine lockers may be for you. Beach Post. “I just want people to know what I to watch your money, whether it’s financial
You are a VIP! know, and that’s why I’m doing this show. It’s or personal. If you’re dealing with money
~Cheers about informing the public.” matters, you want to make sure you’re dealing
~Keep the conversation going and the wine flowing! The show will air live, and new radio shows with someone who’s reputable,” he said.
are planned for 2020. The radio show covers most of Palm Beach
Thomas, 59, often has consultants in County, an area that could reach up to 250,000
business and money matters join in the show, listeners.
where they answer listener questions. Joe has an office at 4440 PGA Boulevard
“We get all kinds of questions,” Thomas, and can be reached at 561-743-0999.
who is also an author of The Retirement Know Joe is offering his free Lunch n’ Learn
It All book, told The Palm Beach Post. events to educate people about the new IRA
“Everybody’s heard of Bernie Madoff. tax laws starting in 2020.
FREE luncheon at PADDY MAC’S restaurant

Topics:

 New 2020 IRA Tax Law Update
 Reducing Social Security Taxes!
 Protecting Your Money Now More Than Ever!
 All your questions will be welcomed!

Wednesday, February 26th or Wednesday, March 25
Time: 11:00 AM Registration, 12:00 Lunch
*Call: 561-743-0999 *RSVP ONLY -- No Walk-Ins