10 April 2023 , 05:06
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Brooks Koepka slammed plodding Patrick Cantlay for his painfully slow play after the LIV Golf star lost a two-shot lead in the final round of the Masters.
The former world No.1 shot a closing 75 to finish tied four shots behind winner Jon Rahm. But the final group were visibly exasperated by the pace of play in the group ahead of them as they needed nearly five hours to play the final 18 holes of a marathon final day.
Playing in the penultimate group with Viktor Hovland, Cantlay reinforced his reputation for slowness by taking his own time to also shoot a 75 to slip to tied 14th. Norwegian Hovland also suffered with his closing 74.
And Koepka, who likes to play fast, said: “Yeah, the group in front of us was brutally slow. Jon went to the bathroom like seven times during the round, and we were still waiting.”
The four-time Major champion was one of three LIV stars - along with Phil Mickelson and Patrick Reed - to finish in the top six of the first Major of the year.
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And Koepka read off the LIV script by declaring: “We're still the same people. I know if I'm healthy, I know I can compete. I don't think any of the guys that played this event thought otherwise, either.
Brooks Koepka blasted the slow play of the group in front on a dramatic final day at the Masters"When Phil plays good, we know he's going to compete. P-Reed, the same thing. I think that's just manufactured by the media that we can't compete anymore; that we are washed up.”
LIV players are banned from the PGA Tour and lost an arbitration case against the DP World Tour last week. But the rebel players are still allowed to tee up in the Majors.
The American added: “I guess it is fractured, I guess, from the fan's perspective. But I think everybody saw it this week. It's nice to see everybody. There are no hard feelings pretty much. I think that's the way everybody should see it.
"I think it's the best tournament in the world, and I think everybody put on a pretty good display. You know, Phil, what did he shoot today, 7-under? That's pretty impressive. Spieth, 6. P-Reed 4, Cameron Young, 4. I think me and Viktor were the only ones to shoot over par.
“But the way Jon played today was pretty impressive. I don't know, the game, it's so good right now, everybody, it's amazing to see all these guys compete. When they are at their best, they are all tough to beat.”
And Koepka, 32, said he is fit and ready to compete in more Majors this season. “Yeah, I think I proved it this week, no?” he said.
“I've known this for a while, but I guess it was just a matter of going out and doing it. I led for three rounds, and just didn't do it on the last day, that's it. Plain and simple.
“I love it. Just some days you have it, some days you don't, and today wasn't one of those. But I feel good, and I expect to be there for the other three.”