Georgie Bingham: Does profile matter?
Team Captain Brooks Koepka of Smash GC celebrates with caddie Ricky Elliott and the trophy after winning the individual award and the team award during day three of the LIV Golf Invitational - Jeddah at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club on October 16, 2022 in King Abdullah Economic City, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Chris Trotman/LIV Golf via Getty Images).
Does profile matter? This is the question I’ve been asking myself this week - because when I saw Alan Shipnuck tweet about Brooks Koepka’s win on the LIV tour I realised - thanks to his tweet - that this comeback from injury/poor form would probably have passed me by if I hadn’t opened twitter at that moment and seen that tweet.
I am at the airport and delayed - so I have time to do whatever I like; however I opened my laptop, looked at the news and then almost instantly fell down a NY Giants/NFL/Sunday night Redzone rabbit hole (we are 5-1 which is incredible btw.).
My point being, on the PGA Tour I would have known about a Brooks Koepka comeback win. I wouldn’t have missed it. I would have seen it all over my twitter feed. Tonight it’s hardly made a ripple. This comeback should be big news.
I muse about this because last week, some college kid picked up a cheque for $4m for winning the individual LIV title at their last tournament and I can’t even remember his name. It was his 5th pro start, he was handpicked by LIV from college. I’ve now googled it - he’s called Eugenio Lopez-Chacharra.
US golfer Brooks Koepka (C) celebrates on the podium following his play-off win in the LIV Golf Invitational-Jeddah at the Royal Greens Golf Club on October 16, 2022. - Four-time major-winner Brooks Koepka secured the biggest payday of his career with a $4 million play-off win over close friend Peter Uihlein on the Saudi-funded LIV Golf breakaway tour. (Photo by Amer HILABI / AFP) (Photo by AMER HILABI/AFP via Getty Images).
So I wonder - if you were Eugene, wouldn’t you want everyone to know your name after a win against some of the talent he’s taking on? Or actually would you care? Does that kid who might have gone through the conventional channels and might not have ever made it onto the PGA Tour at all give ONE jot whether we know his name? He is RICH!! He has MADE IT - but maybe without the fanfare he may have expected. I wonder whether he cares.
Team Captain Brooks Koepka of Smash GC plays his shot from the 14th tee during day three of the LIV Golf Invitational - Jeddah at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club on October 16, 2022 in King Abdullah Economic City, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Charles Laberge/LIV Golf via Getty Images).
There’ll come a time when LIV wins will no doubt be as profile as wins on other tours - but for now they don’t make much ripple. I’ve always felt like sportsmen play for glory as much as for keeps - the adulation, the adoration that comes with winning is part and parcel of being at the very top of ones sport. Will Brooks notice the difference after this win for him this week? Will Brooks care also? I feel like the recognition that comes with winning must surely be important.
US golfer Brooks Koepka reacts following his play-off win in the LIV Golf Invitational-Jeddah at the Royal Greens Golf Club on October 16, 2022. - Four-time major-winner Brooks Koepka secured the biggest payday of his career with a $4 million play-off win over close friend Peter Uihlein on the Saudi-funded LIV Golf breakaway tour. (Photo by Amer HILABI / AFP) (Photo by AMER HILABI/AFP via Getty Images).
Maybe I am wrong but also we will never know will we - it’s not like Brooks or Eugenio can go whining about birthday cake (football joke) when they can literally take a bath in their riches if they like!
Maybe I think too much about these things and no one cares. Literally.
Georgie Bingham, broadcaster and journalist, writes a bi-weekly column for The Cut Stuff. She’s golf obsessed. She’s ready to go behind the tour.
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