Brooks Koepka’s Friday at LIV Golf Dallas was supposed to be another steady chapter in a decorated career. Instead, it turned into a chaotic, illness-shortened round that saw the five-time major champion implode early, smash a tee marker in frustration, and ultimately withdraw before finishing nine holes at Maridoe Golf Club.
An Early Birdie, Then the Collapse
Things actually started well for Koepka, who birdied his opening hole (No. 2) to kick off his first round with optimism. But that was about the only bright spot. A triple bogey on the par-4 4th followed, and he repeated the disaster just three holes later on the par-5 7th. By the time he teed off on the par-4 9th, the wheels were off—and his frustration hit a visible boiling point.
After what looked like another disappointing shot off the tee, Koepka forcefully smashed the tee marker. While the marker appeared to sail dangerously close to spectators, no injuries were reported. Still, the moment added another layer of drama to an already unraveling round.
Following a bogey on the hole, Koepka withdrew from the tournament, citing illness. It was a sharp and sudden end to a rough outing, and reserve player Luis Carrera stepped in to finish the round. Carrera played the remaining holes in 3-over, bringing the team’s total score to 9-over par for the day. While Koepka is out of individual competition, he’s still eligible to return for the team portion—should he recover in time.
Another Golf Star, Another Golf Meltdown
Koepka’s outburst places him squarely in a recent trend of high-profile pros visibly losing their cool. Rory McIlroy smashed a tee marker and tossed a club at the U.S. Open. Wyndham Clark made headlines for damaging Oakmont’s historic lockers. Adam Hadwin took his frustrations out on a sprinkler at the Valspar.
And Tyrrell Hatton? He’s practically turned tee markers into personal rivals, famously shrugging off criticism by saying, “If that’s the worst thing I do as a human, then, I mean, it’s not that bad.” Clearly, golf’s best aren’t immune to emotional spikes—especially with mounting pressure, long rounds, and frustrating conditions.
It remains to be seen whether Koepka will return for the team portion of LIV Golf Dallas, but Friday’s episode is another reminder that even the most decorated players can hit a breaking point. Illness may have been the official reason for his withdrawal, but his visible agitation painted a fuller picture of just how quickly things spiraled.
Golf has long been a sport of precision, patience, and control. But when tempers flare—even for the best in the world—sometimes a tee marker takes the brunt.
