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‘Just Shut Up and Listen’: Brooks Koepka Furiously Sounded Off, on a Hot and Debated Issue in 2020

Published 11/02/2022, 9:19 AM EDT

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USA Today via Reuters

In 2020, when the COVID pandemic hit, majority of the world was quarantined. Golf was one of the first few sports to get started again. On an empty course, with no fans cheering. With no yelling and cheering throughout the course, the hot mics on the course picked up on many players’ F-bombs and conversations. Brooks Koepka was one of the golfers who was caught swearing more than once on the course during this time.

In July 2020, the PGA Tour tried to get the players to mic up during events. Many players were strongly opposed to this idea and voiced their concerns. Among them were players like Koepka, Justin Thomas, and Jon Rahm.

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Why were the players asked to wear microphones?

The PGA Tour had to conduct multiple events without fans present at the course due to the COVID laws at the time. Officials at CBS came up with the idea of asking the players to wear microphones during the rounds of the tournament. Round 1 of the Charles Schwab Challenge saw the first time this was applied.

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CBS asked the whole field of 148 players to wear microphones during the tournament. The players were not thrilled about this at all, and many blatantly refused. The only player to mic up was Rickie Fowler. He wore a microphone during his entire first round. The CBS thanked him, saying“We invited every player in the tournament to wear a mic if they wished during tournament play. We had Rickie Fowler take us up on that on Thursday. We were grateful. That’s the only one so far who has volunteered.”

USA Today via Reuters

In the interviews that followed, many players were questioned about wearing mics in the in. They had a lot to say about it. The four-time major title winner, Brooks Koepka, suggested that instead of the players wearing mics, the announcers could “just shut up and listen.”

Brooks Koepka and other players lash out at the proposal.

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Justin Thomas was another player who was against being mic’d. He reasoned that what he spoke about wasn’t anyone’s business and said, “What I talk about with Jimmy and what I talk about with the guys in my group is none of anybody else’s business, no offense.” He further explained that if he wanted people to know what he was saying, he could do it himself. “If I want somebody to know what I say, I’ll say it in a press conference.”

via Getty

Brooks Koepka himself had a lot to say. He furiously said, “I don’t understand why they want us to wear a mic when there’s a boom mic that stands 10 feet away from every shot that I hit.” He then went on to blast the announcers, saying if they would keep their mouths shut and listen, maybe they wouldn’t need the players to wear mics.

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Watch This Story – Explained, Brooks Koepka vs Bryson DeChambeau

Many speculated that Brooks lashed out because of the amount he swore on the pitch, but Koepka isn’t the shy type. Perhaps like Justin, Brooks Koepka didn’t want everything made public either. Or he didn’t want his words used against him out of context, as they often are for athletes. What do you think it was? Let us know below in the comments.

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Written by:

Sheldon Pereira

691Articles

One take at a time

Edited by:

Manaal Siddiqui

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