Brooks Koepka SLAMS ‘brutally slow’ Patrick Cantlay after losing the Masters lead to champion Jon Rahm on the final day… but the LIV rebel insists there are ‘no hard feelings’ over PGA Tour ban
Brooks Koepka slammed the ‘brutally slow’ Patrick Cantlay on the last day of the 2023 Masters as the four-time major champion lost his lead in the final round to Jon Rahm.
The former world No 1 finished Sunday with three over par as Rahm went on to hit three under to claim his first Masters title.
The final group to tee off grew increasingly frustrated with the golfers in front of them as they needed almost five hours to complete the last 18 holes.
Cantlay was paired with Viktor Hovland in the group ahead of the Masters leaders on Easter Sunday and the duo took more than their fair share of time to make their way around the Augusta course.
Cantlay in particular has developed a reputation in recent years for his leisurely approach to timekeeping.
Brooks Koepka led the Masters going into the final day but eventually lost out to Jon Rahm
Koepka complained about the ‘brutally slow’ Patrick Cantlay in the group in front of them
Rahm hit a 69 on Sunday and finished the day on three under par to claim his first Masters title
The LIV rebel Koepka told the press after finishing the final round: ‘Yeah, the group in front of us was brutally slow. Jon went to the bathroom like seven times during the round, and we were still waiting.’
The four-time major champion then addressed his ties to the controversial LIV tour claiming he can still compete with those at the top of the PGA.
‘We’re still the same people. I know if I’m healthy, I know I can compete. I don’t think any of the guys that played this event thought otherwise, either.
‘When Phil plays good, we know he’s going to compete. P-Reed, the same thing. I think that’s just manufactured by the media that we can’t compete anymore; that we are washed up.’
Three LIV-contracted golfers finished in the top six of this year’s Masters, including Koepka, Phil Mickelson and Patrick Reed.
Koepka continued: ‘I guess it is fractured, I guess, from the fan’s perspective. But I think everybody saw it this week. It’s nice to see everybody. There are no hard feelings pretty much. I think that’s the way everybody should see it.
‘I think it’s the best tournament in the world, and I think everybody put on a pretty good display. You know, Phil, what did he shoot today, 7-under? That’s pretty impressive. Spieth, 6. P-Reed 4, Cameron Young, 4. I think me and Viktor were the only ones to shoot over par.
‘But the way Jon played today was pretty impressive. I don’t know, the game, it’s so good right now, everybody, it’s amazing to see all these guys compete. When they are at their best, they are all tough to beat.’