PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh reveals he shared a joke with Brooks Koepka, NOT an awkward exchange

PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh played down speculation of an awkward interaction with Brooks Koepka following the latter’s PGA Championship win at the weekend. 

Koepka clinched his fifth major win Sunday as he edged out Viktor Hovland and the newly re-crowned World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler to lift the Wanamaker trophy for a third time.

But some speculated that the five-time major winner has a tense interaction with the PGA of America chief as he was presented with the Wanamaker trophy for the third time in his career. 

On the broadcast of the presentation, the 33-year-old could be seen stood by the Wanamaker as Waugh made his way over to briefly pose for a photo before swiftly walking away without a handshake. 

However, Waugh has since shut down the social media conspiracists, explaining that the pair were actually sharing a joke. 

‘I literally said to him, “I think they have four million pictures of me. They must have 24 million pictures of you. I’ve never seen one of them and I don’t know if you ever have,”‘ Waugh told Todd Lewis of Golf Channel.

‘He cracked up, he laughed and we kind a turned around and smiled at each other. That was it. Somebody chose to think that was a diss and I hadn’t shaken his hand. I already talked to him five times since he won. I certainly shook his hand and told him how proud I was of him.’

The PGA of America chief had posed close to Koepka for a brief moment before appearing to take a side step away from the recently crowned champion. 

Seemingly unable to bear it much longer, Waugh made a swift exit without a handshake or even any eye contact with Koepka. 

As the CEO walked away, he appeared to whisper something to the champion, who turned around and splayed his hands out smiling. 

The speculation was heightened by the fact that Waugh has previously been critical of LIV Golf. 

Koepka is the first LIV player to have won a major since jumping ship from the PGA Tour last year. 

In the breakaway’s short existence, Waugh has taken a few digs at the rebel circuit, which Koepka joined last summer. 

‘Their logic about the team play being something significant that people can get behind I think is flawed,’ Waugh told The Times just 10 days ago. ‘I don’t think people really care about it. And I don’t see how it’s a survivable business model. 

‘They can fund it for as long as they want to, but no matter how much money you have, at some point burning it doesn’t feel very good. I don’t see they are accomplishing much.’

Waugh is also a board member of the Official World Golf Ranking, which is considering LIV’s application for recognition.

The application was lodged last July but Waugh claimed that it would be a long process. 

‘There are certain parts of their structure that can be solved by math, but there may be some pretty fundamental things that are harder,’ Waugh added. ‘There’s the potential conflict with the team aspect and then access – how do you get relegated and promoted?

‘They had our latest response weeks ago and we haven’t heard back. They have made a bad assumption that this will be a quick process. It never has been. Every application has taken a year-plus as far as I’m aware.

‘I can’t speculate (on how long it will take) because they have not responded. They may have to solve things as well, and it’s not clear whether they’re willing to.’

However, Waugh did touch upon his hope for civility between the rebels and the PGA Tour loyalists at his organizations major following the first of the year, the Masters. 

‘The good news is the Masters went first and set the stage for, frankly, civility,’ he said. ‘That’s the tone we want -nobody died, right? 

‘I lived in a world of disruption my whole business career and disruption is generally healthy. It makes you better, and the game is better.’