Brooks Koepka On Why He Struggles With "Demanding" Ryder Cup

The four-time Major champion really doesn't seem like a fan of men's golf's biennial USA vs Europe match...

Brooks Koepka
(Image credit: Getty Images)

The four-time Major champion really doesn't seem like a fan of men's golf's biennial USA vs Europe match...

Brooks Koepka has opened up on the Ryder Cup and his comments on the event will not be music to Steve Stricker's ears.

The American didn't hold back and called the match "demanding", "hectic" and "a bit odd."

His comments re-enforce the idea that the USA is 12 individuals as opposed to Europe's united team.

"It's different. It's hectic. It's a bit odd if I'm honest. There's no time to decompress," Koepka said in an interview with Golf Digest.

"I don't want to say it's a bad week. We're just so individualised and everybody has their routine and different way of doing things.

"And now, it's like okay, we have to have a meeting at this time, or go do this, or go do that. It's the opposite of what happens in a major week."

The two-time Ryder Cupper says that the Ryder Cup week is mentally draining.

"If I break down a major week, it's so chill. I go to the course, play nine holes. I go to the gym," he said.

"Other than that, I'm sitting watching television, taking my mind off the golf."

"The physical part, I can handle.

"The mental side, you have to be able to turn it off. Sometimes, the power comes from being able to turn it on but I get power from turning it off."

Related: "I think highly of him" - DeChambeau dismisses Koepka Ryder Cup troubles

He also commented on the team aspect of the match, which he finds difficult as a solo golfer.

"It's tough," he said.

"There are times where I'm like, I won my match. I did my job. What do you want from me?

"I know how to take responsibility for the shots I hit every week.

"Now, somebody else hit a bad shot and left me in a bad spot, and I know this hole is a loss.

"That's new, and you have to change the way you think about things.

"You go from an individual sport every week to a team sport one week a year.

"There are meetings and team building, and you're whisked away for a lot of things like pictures and all that.

"Under regular conditions, I take naps a lot. I might take an hour, hour-and-a-half nap, or just chill on the couch.

"There's no time to do that at the Ryder Cup.

"It's more demanding than I'm used to, and there's a lot of emotion there, so by Sunday, you're just dead."

Related: Stricker - Koepka and DeChambeau rivalry "not going to be an issue"

Despite his lack of enthusiasm for the event, he has a solid record after two appearances.

In 2016, he won two points from three matches and 1.5 from four matches in 2018.

Elliott Heath
News Editor

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!


Elliott is currently playing:


Driver: Titleist TSR4

3 wood: Titleist TSi2

Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1

Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5

Ball: Srixon Z Star XV