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Brooks Koepka does not appear happy with being left off ESPN’s list of most dominant athletes for 2018
On Tuesday, ESPN The Magazine released their list of the 20 most dominant athletes of 2018. Amongst that list included household names such as Lebron James, Novak Djokovic and Drew Brees, while the American gymnast, Simone Biles, took the top spot on ESPN’s list.
One man who did not appear amongst the roll of honor of sporting royalty, however, was golf’s Brooks Koepka. The 28-year-old captured two major championships in 2018, but that wasn’t enough for him to feature on ESPN’s list, which included the triple crown winning horse, Justify, in 16th place.
Learning of his exclusion, Koepka took to social media and made this post, which suggested that he was not too pleased with his omission.
???????????? pic.twitter.com/hboyNl753P
— Brooks Koepka (@BKoepka) December 11, 2018
The list evaluated athletes against their fellow competitors, and then analysed their performance against the accomplishments of other great athletes within their sport from 1998 to present.
Explaining Simone Biles score of 3.25, the compiler of the list Peter Keating stated “So what does Simone Biles’ dominance score of 3.25 mean? In 2018, she was 3.25 standard deviations better than the typical top-four performer in all-around women’s gymnastics since 1998—rendering her the year’s most dominant pro athlete.”
The LPGA’s Ariya Jutanurgarn was the only golfer to feature on the list, who Keating judged to have been the fourth most dominant athlete of 2018. The Thai player won three times on Tour in 2018, which is the same number of times as Koepka; however, just one of those wins was a major championship title, compared to Koepka’s two major victories this year. Jutanugarn did, though, have a total of 13 top-five finishes in 2018, compared to Koepka’s five, and also won every year-end LPGA award that was possible for her to win.
In the past, Koepka has spoken concerning the lack of respect that he feels that he is given, in particular by the media. The American has previously suggested that certain players get their names written about more than him because they “kiss up”, and this year the current world number one let the press know that he doesn’t forget an insult, stating “Come Sunday, I won’t forget it when everyone wants to talk to me because I just won. I don’t forget things.”
Judging by Koepka’s reaction on social media to ESPN’s list, this will be yet another incident that the 28-year-old is unlikely to forget. The chip that Koepka carries around on his shoulder has fueled him to win three of the last six major championships that he has appeared in, and this latest snub from the media has given him plenty of incentive to once again prove people wrong in 2019.
GolfWRXers, was Koepka’s omission from the list justified, or another show of disrespect towards golf’s current best player?
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Tour Rundown: Matching luggage for Scheffler
For those of us from another generation, the disruption of the golf world that we knew well is both exciting and unsettling. The two most potent disruptors are rival golf leagues, not unlike the turmoil seen in the NCAA, and the Anchorman-style gangs of golf reporters. Reconciled to a past era are the dominance of the U.S. PGA Tour and the monthly golf magazines. One element that will not change, at any time in the foreseeable future, however, is the sanctity of the grand slam and golf’s four male major championships. While the LPGA and the PGA Tour Champions have seen a light and added fifth and sixth power titles, the men’s game remains staunchly in the 20th century.
This last topic surges in pertinence each March, just before the playing of The Players Championship. Two camps stake tents and run banners up the poll. One cries out for elevation of the PC to major status, while the other digs a trench around its impregnable quadrilateral. My personal take is this: Every four years since 2016, golf is played at the Olympics. Is Olympic Gold the equivalent of a major title? Yes, it is. It comes around every 1,500 days and brings elite golfers together in competition at the most important athletic event and venue. In my mind, Justin Rose and Xander Schauffele earned major titles in Brazil and Japan, as did Inbee Park and Nelly Korda. As for the Players Championship, why not? The field is stronger by ranking than any major event, and the golf course demands every shot that golfers can create.
The Players Championship is so important to the U.S. PGA Tour that all other tours under its umbrella take the week off. No Korn Ferry, no Tour Champions. The LPGA and the DP World Tour follow suit, which shrinks the amount of watchable golf to two events. On that sour note, let’s run down this week’s play, beginning with the Players Championship and ending with the Asian Tour in Macau.
PGA Tour @ Players Championship: matching luggage for Scheffler
Scottie Scheffler is making a bid to be the player of his generation. From the previous one, a fair number have taken leave from traditional competition. The Johnsons, Koepkas, and Reeds from the 1980s no longer play the events that stand the test of time. The born-in-the-90s generation had its first great champion in Jordan Spieth until he took leave of the senses that brought him to golf’s pinnacle. Spieth’s descent ran opposite Scheffler’s rise.
Scottie Scheffler had won nothing on the PGA Tour until February 13th of 2022. He won on that day in Phoenix, then won three more times by the middle of April. One of those wins was the API at Bay Hill. Last week, Scheffler won for a second time at the Orlando course. Last March, Scheffler won his first Players Championship, by five shots over Tyrrell Hatton. On Sunday, Scheffler dived headfirst into a cauldron of fierce competition. Facing challenges from Olympic champion Schauffele, Open champion Brian Harmon, and U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark, Scheffler breathed. As the only man to reach 20 under par, he earned a second consecutive title at Sawgrass and reminded us that it has been two years since he won the Masters and that he is on a tear.
It all began at the fourth on Sunday for Scheffler. After pars at the opening three holes, Scheffler’s driving wedge from 92 yards landed 20 feet shy of the hole, took one large bounce, then spun left, trickling into the hole for eagle. He followed that incantation with another birdie, then two pars. The stretch from 8 to 12 was where the champion made a statement. His quartet of birdies over that run, brought him to 19-under par and let the pursuing pack know that even lower than the winning 17 under in 2023 would be necessary.
And the trio was game. Harman and Clark both dipped below 70, to reach 19 under at the final pole. Schauffele could not find a similar gear and closed with 70 — 69 would have earned him a playoff with Scheffler. It was the extra gear, the ability to go low when all things mattered, that eleveated the now two-time champion to the top of the podium. In five of his eight tour wins, Scheffler has posted a sub-70 round on day four, and four of those have been 67 or lower.
With elegant precision, Scheffler applied the final thrust at the par-5 16th. He played safely away from Pete’s Pond on the right, into the left greenside bunker at the back of the putting surface. His bunker shot was thing of exquisite accuracy, trickling to a planned stop about 20 inches from the hole. The birdie concluded matters and rang the sort of bell that Dye courses tend to display.
The greenside bunker is not a problem for the defending champ.
Scottie Scheffler’s birdie at 16 moves him back into a share of the lead @THEPLAYERS. pic.twitter.com/aEi7onLZPE
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 17, 2024
Asian Tour @ International Series Macau: Catlin earns playoff victory
There are two sorts of golfers that compete on the Asian Tour, which makes no secret of its alliance with the LIV. The first are the AT stalwarts, the ones who play as golfers have always played, with little guarantee and much pride. The others are the ones who compete on the LIV, eschewing both risk and pride for the guaranteed payday. Their deal costs them world ranking points, so they play in AT events, hoping to qualify for golf’s major events.
This week in Macau, one of those LIV golfers shot 60 on Sunday and did not win the tournament. Hard to believe, you say? Aye, but when another golfer shoots 59 in the third round, follows it up with a 65 on day four, then makes overtime birdie twice at the par-five closer, the razor’s edge of great golf is sharpened. Thus did it happen with American John Catlin and Spaniard David Puig.
It was Catlin who signed for 59, and it took a twisting, eagle putt at the last to enshrine the first-ever, sub-60 on the Asian Tour. It was Puig who closed the gap on Sunday with a 60 of his own, which featured a bogey at the lengthy fifth hole, but was followed by seven birdies and an eagle over the next 13 holes. Catlin had a six-feet putt for the regulation win, but missed. In extra time, Puig nearly holed for eagle at 18, then tapped in for birdie. Catlin’s second danced along the OOB perimeter, before ending on an access road. His drop and pitch left him another six feet to remain alive, and this time, he converted.
At the second go-round of the par-5 finisher, Puig found the green in two, but took three putts from nearly 50 feet. Catlin confronted another challenging pitch for his third, and once again, his wedge game won the day. He tapped in for birdie and the win.
5??9?? ? @JohnCatlin59 eagles the 18th to shoot the first 59 on the Asian Tour ?? #whereitsAT #ThisISEverything #InternationalSeries @intseriesgolf pic.twitter.com/RV9gYy1SIp
— Asian Tour (@asiantourgolf) March 16, 2024
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Victor
Dec 14, 2018 at 1:07 pm
Yes because 1. Not kissing up to the media 2. Never forgetting the media snubbed you and 3. Ignoring the media if you win again, is gonna be a sure fire way to get you more “media” attention.
Suck it up, suck up, and get a equipment deal so someone else can help market your “fake” brand, so you get paid more $$$
Ronald E Owens
Dec 14, 2018 at 12:58 pm
Who cares? Get over it! Consider whose list it is and in a list of things that REALLY matter, is this even on it? Didn’t think so.
JustWellsy
Dec 14, 2018 at 11:58 am
Who cares about ESPN anyway? What a terrible company… I’m glad they’re failing
nrgnovator
Dec 14, 2018 at 2:10 pm
Can’t agree more!!! ESPN has become (in general) a bunch of irrelevant, biased leftists who are desperately attempting to regain their respect and viewership that was lost due to their inability to keep their politics out of their sports coverage and commentary!
IMO
Dec 13, 2018 at 10:49 am
Remember golf is a game not a sport!!!! Who gives a hoot about ESPN, CNN, and MSNBC…
Jerry Updike
Dec 13, 2018 at 10:33 am
They put an actual animal in front of him, that’s hilarious.
The list is funny, Cormier isn’t even a top 5 mixed martial artist, let alone a top 3 athlete in the world. Mahomes and Harden must have really good agents.
Steve
Dec 12, 2018 at 11:01 pm
This list is meaningless, particularly for the women in it. In all women’s sports there’s a few dominate players at the top, and the rest just fill out the tournament. They’re also typically a lot better looking.
And why would you have Olympians on this list when…it’s not an Olympic year? Just because they beat up on whoever’s looking to scrape a paycheck by?
Bag a few more major next year BK; let the anger burn within you.
Tony Lynam
Dec 12, 2018 at 9:02 pm
ESPN? That network is still around?
Tommy
Dec 12, 2018 at 8:16 pm
But he doesn’t care…..right. I actually like what I’ve seen of Brooks as a person but you can’t demand respect…doesn’t work that way. Just zip it and keep winning…it’ll come, just like all the money did. Didn’t have to ask for that, did you?
Jack
Dec 12, 2018 at 6:03 pm
Interesting piece that highlights the wide-range of sports with these gifted athletes who have dominated in their respective fields (Thank you, @Gianni for the share). Two things of note:
First, ESPN’s list of most dominant athletes is clearly driven off quantitative metrics and makes no mention to how marketable [like-able] these individuals are. So to the many readers who have commented on Koepka’s personality or lack thereof and how this may have driven an omission from ESPN’s aforementioned list… irrelevant.
Second, has the LPGA missed the mark in terms of creating a buzz around such a talented player in Ariya Jutanugarn? Considering the likes of other women who too have had dominant stretches since ’98 (Sorenstam, Ochoa, Tseng, just to name a few) it seems to me that an organization that has notoriously struggled in growing their following should be able to capitalize on a female who is not only one of the most successful golfers on the LPGA, but rather one of the most dominant athletes in the world.
the dude
Dec 12, 2018 at 6:01 pm
good to see the olympic figure skater made the top 11……wow..
the dude
Dec 12, 2018 at 6:00 pm
He could win the grand slam….and 2 day’s later…”in other news” Not sure what it is…but he is lukewarm…kinda robotic out there. Not a aweful thing, just an awesome golfer that is boring…..
Brad
Dec 12, 2018 at 5:48 pm
Brooks Koepka doesn’t get included in the same breath as other “star” athletes in golf or other sports for two simple reasons – (1) he doesn’t kiss up to the media and (2) he isn’t signed to a big name OEM golf manufacturer.
If he were signed to ANY of the big OEM golf companies, their media departments would be out singing his praises from the rooftops and selling this fantastic, feel-good, “Cool Hand Brooks” persona to the media and golfing public.
Most of the players who people think are “cool” or “charismatic” are seen that way simply because their sponsors have manufactured that perception. There are exceptions, or those players who have such big personalities or are so exceptional that they don’t need anything “manufactured” such as Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman, John Daly, Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, etc. – but most of the “cool” golfers aren’t really that cool in person. I’ve met quite a lot of them and really, most of them aren’t any more charismatic or cool than the average Joe on the street, and the ones that are often aren’t the ones the public thinks would be cool to hang out with.
Travis
Dec 12, 2018 at 1:59 pm
His whole golf persona has been done many times over. He’s not unique in anything. He’s a great golfer but unmemorable in almost every way. The fact that he doesn’t have a club contract is actually working AGAINST him because he’s not even the face of any brand. So in the eyes of the fans he’s getting no face time.
He has no traits about him that make him memorable or marketable.
Aldo
Dec 12, 2018 at 1:35 pm
Oh Lord gimme a break. Poor baby earning over $5 million this season isn’t enough for simply playing a game well? Still need your ego stroked. I swear pro athletes along with actors/actresses, music artists all for the most part get paid exorbitant amounts of money for their jobs but still want public recognition. Don’t hear any complaint about no awards or list for best brain and heart surgeons or for emergency first responders or how about teachers. SMH
Gun Violent
Dec 12, 2018 at 9:04 pm
You can’t compare artists to sports athletes.
Art is opinion based, sports is achievement based.
It doesn’t matter whether you like a particular song or movie or whatever – it doesn’t mean it’s good, it doesn’t mean everybody has to like it.
In sports, you have to go achieve it. It doesn’t matter what anybody says, if you win, and get results, that’s what counts. And not all athletes are looking for public recognition, they are out there to get results.
That’s where you are wrong, and are confused, when you think your taste in music counts for something – it doesn’t. That movie that won an award? It doesn’t make it a good movie. It’s just somebody’s opinion. Same as food. Not everything will taste good for everybody.
Sports is not the same.
You have shown your lack of education.
Aldo
Dec 13, 2018 at 3:30 pm
Hey Gun Violet thanks for what appears to be your attempt to educate on the differences between objective and subjective. It fell flat as you missed my whole point and it wasn’t comparing peoples tastes in the arts to athletic accomplishments. Obviously artist and athletes have very different jobs but these artists and athletes already get paid unimaginable amounts of money for a job that us mere mortals look at as entertainment, past time, a hobby. And this great compensation for their work is not enough that they still need to hear praises and feel the pats on their back at awards shows or top 10 lists. Now you stated that not all athletes are looking for recognition but results but I think in this case the title of this article begs to differ. Koepka has the results, the money and has reached the pinnacle golf world #1. That alone should speaks volumes but sounds like his ego is still taking a hit for not being included in some ridiculous list.
Stay in school kids.
toyzrx
Dec 12, 2018 at 1:12 pm
The list is for athletes. Golfers don’t count period.
You suck
Dec 12, 2018 at 1:59 pm
Ummm, Jutanurgarn is on the list, so if this is a shot at a golfer you have failed. Now, go back to the t box and hits your 3rd
erlybrd
Dec 13, 2018 at 9:22 pm
Golf is something that athletes do in their off season. I’ve heard of Jutanurgan. Yeh a lot of guys who think golf is a sport watch girls golf I suppose, lol.
KevinS.
Dec 12, 2018 at 12:41 pm
You gotta be kidding me! ESPN providing such a list is akin to asking Nancy Pelosi who was the best U.S. president ever. It’s not the content of the list; it’s the source of the assessments that created the list.
Dave r
Dec 12, 2018 at 12:14 pm
Only one golfer in the top 20 anyway so who cares ! Why would any golfer be upset it’s only the opinion of some sports writer ?
Marc Tebo
Dec 12, 2018 at 11:13 am
He’s not marketable, it’s that simple. If this guy had just 1 inkling of personality people might start taking notice. He’s so BORING…
Mv
Dec 12, 2018 at 11:17 am
You’re assesment is spot on. He’s the most uninteresting man in the world.
A. Commoner
Dec 12, 2018 at 1:29 pm
Look at the so-called idols getting praise today. A ‘crass and crude’ mouth and general behavior is so prized and praised. “Swagger” valued by so many is simply obnoxious oafish acting. Reserved and professional behavior befitting of a champion should be welcomed instead of challenged. On the flip side, we have seen those who habitually gave only scripted and rehearsed tidbits to adoring audiences while keeping their distance from the “unwashed masses” who nonetheless loved them. Life is full of contradictions.
Gun Violent
Dec 12, 2018 at 11:06 am
This is good. It will help him spur on for the new season and will help him rip everybody a new one.
kevin
Dec 12, 2018 at 10:35 am
Koepka finished 2018 5th on the money list, 9th in fed ex standings, and won twice. yes they were majors but this guy was hardly dominant, and definitely not one of the most dominant athletes when looking at all athletes and all sports.
He is quickly becoming incredibly annoying though.
Thomas A
Dec 12, 2018 at 9:51 am
But, but…he doesn’t care, right? Or he does? I couldn’t tell you what his voice sounds like, btw. As if he would have something intelligent to say anyway.
Krooks Boepka
Dec 12, 2018 at 10:03 am
He’s too busy counting his millions and banging his model girlfriend to care, Thomas. Enjoy that high horse though, buddy.. suites you well.
Michael
Dec 12, 2018 at 9:30 am
Maybe if he had something to say, people might want to talk to him…
A. Commoner
Dec 12, 2018 at 5:00 pm
What’s the problem here? He might be Ben Hogan without the acidity.
Dan
Dec 12, 2018 at 9:21 am
I’m surprised they didn’t select Tiger bc it was “the greatest comeback in sports history” (sarcasm).
DarthBlader
Dec 12, 2018 at 9:12 am
It’s golf BK. Life goes on…