Brooks Koepka: Brandel Chamblee, Brad Faxon argue over Ryder Cup and LIV Golf

With Brooks Koepka’s victory on the PGA Championship at Oak Hill, the now five-time main winner ranks second within the Ryder Cup rankings for Staff USA.

However with Koepka’s allegiance to the Saudi-backed LIV Golf tour, and for the reason that PGA of America facilitates the Ryder Cup, a debate has emerged about whether or not or not LIV golfers ought to symbolize their international locations within the bi-annual competitors.

Following Sunday’s remaining spherical, Golf Channel’s Wealthy Lerner hosted Reside from the PGA Championship from Oak Hill. Former Tour gamers Brandel Chamblee and Brad Faxon sat alongside Lerner as panelists, as these three mentioned Koepka’s victory, Michael Block’s heroics, and different issues from the week in Rochester.

When the subject of Koepka representing Staff USA got here up, issues grew tense on the set.

“While you discuss in regards to the LIV golfers that left the PGA Tour to go over play there, you by no means hear a foul phrase from these gamers about Brooks Koepka,” Faxon started. “Brooks can be a improbable addition to the workforce, notably contained in the locker room. [American captain] Zach [Johnson] can be silly to not think about him.”

Chamblee, an avid critic of LIV, responded vehemently.

“Don’t you suppose it might be a little bit of a slap within the face to the gamers that didn’t go, that didn’t take the cash and go to LIV, that someone who took the cash might now have their cake and eat it too?” Chamblee questioned.

“In enjoying on the Ryder Cup workforce, wouldn’t it not in a roundabout way elevate LIV, [and] make it extra reliable?” Chamblee added. “And LIV, by the best way, is concerned in and actively suing the PGA Tour at an unlimited expense to the PGA Tour. And that expense and cash come from the PGA Tour gamers’ pockets. So how do you are feeling about these two?”

By this level, Faxon appeared greatly surprised however re-affirmed his advocacy for the PGA Tour.

“I served on the [PGA Tour’s] Gamers Coverage Board three completely different instances,” Faxon quipped. “I can’t stand that this infiltrated our recreation in a approach.”

“The PGA of America runs the Ryder Cup,” Faxon added. “I don’t suppose this has something to do—they’re not enjoying for cash on the Ryder Cup, Brandel. They’re enjoying for his or her nation. He’s an American.”

Now issues started to get testy on dwell tv.

“They’re enjoying for his or her nation,” Chamblee responded. “They’re not enjoying for his or her tour. They’re enjoying for his or her nation. There’s definitely a way that the Europeans are enjoying for his or her tour. I believe you’re proper. You make an inexpensive level. They’re not enjoying for his or her tour. They’re simply enjoying for his or her nation.”

To answer Chamblee’s gripe, Faxon stated one thing true but easy:

“Properly, they’re enjoying golf.”

An extended silence adopted as the 2 Golf Channel analysts checked out one another.

After that awkward pause, Faxon broke the strain by saying, “we stand off right here.”

This debate is more likely to roar on. Different necessary names have chimed in on the topic.

Scottie Scheffler, the primary ranked participant on this planet and the top-ranked participant within the Ryder Cup rankings, weighed in on this dialogue following the PGA Championship.

Photograph by Gary Newkirk/Allsport/Getty Pictures

He doesn’t care about completely different excursions; he desires to win the Ryder Cup on European soil for the primary time in 30 years.

Ryder Cup rosters can be finalized in August. There’ll possible be countless discussions surrounding this subject.