‘He’ll win a lot more’: Brooks Koepka can rival the big boys in the majors, says coach | Golf

Pete Cowen, Brooks Koepka’s English trainer, believes that the newly crowned US PGA champion it can match the major winning accounts of legends like Ben Hogan and Gary Player. Koepka’s two-stroke success at Oak Hill means he has five majors to his name, including three US PGA titles.

Cowen, who coaches Koepka primarily on his short game, sees no reason for the 33-year-old to stop there. Hogan and Player each won nine majors. “He’ll earn a lot more,” he said. “I certainly think he will do another four and obviously would like a Grand Slam. Look how many times he’s been second or just missed it. I thought he was an amazing player in 2018-2019 and he’s gotten stronger.”

Injuries were Koepka’s problem for much of the interim period, raising fears that he might even have to step away from top-level golf. “That really affected him,” Cowen said. “You can’t swing the way you want when you’re in poor physical condition.

“I thought he could come back because he has always felt comfortable in uncomfortable situations. It looks like he’s going to beat you now, when he comes down the stretch. He’s not afraid of working, that’s for sure, and he couldn’t work when he got hurt.”

koepka, which tied for second place in the Masters, will move up to second in the automatic qualifying spots for the USA Ryder Cup team. While it would seem extraordinary if he didn’t receive at least one captain’s pick for the September meeting with Europe in Rome, Koepka’s position as part of the LIV rebel tour adds an element of doubt. “He would love to play in the Ryder Cup,” Cowen said. “I know Brooks, and Dustin Johnson, would love to play. I’ve talked to them about it.”

A tongue-in-cheek comment followed, referring to PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan. “I don’t think Jay would like him to play,” Cowen said. He ryder cup it is, however, a concern of the PGA of America rather than the PGA Tour.

When asked about the importance of a LIV golfer winning a Major, Koepka said: “Yes, it’s a huge thing, but at the same time I’m here competing as an individual in the PGA Championship.”

Cowen walked Koepka between the Oak Hill pitching and putting areas before the final round. “He was complaining about swinging badly,” Cowen said. “I told him, ‘Your 70% will still win.'”

Cowen has only one memento of Koepka’s major victories, a signed flag given to him afterward. the 2017 US Open in Erin Hills. “I sat him down after watching him play all four rounds at the St Jude Classic,” said the 72-year-old Yorkshireman. “I gave him a real talk, I told him: ‘With that attitude you are not going to win anything. Your talent is there, but your attitude is terrible. You have to have the attitude of a champion if you’re going to be a champion.’

“On the flag it says: ‘Thank you for the nonsense. I couldn’t have done it without you. He can take that from me, he doesn’t want a ‘yes’ man or his ego stroked from him.”