NORTH PLAINS — Fans stood on tiptoes with their phones above their heads, children sat on shoulders to get a better view and countless cameras were pointed at the tee. Every set of eyes was locked on one of LIV Golf’s newest additions.
Then a mechanical voice sounded over a speaker just behind the stands Thursday at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club.
“Please welcome to the tee, Brooks Koepka!”
Just behind Koepka stood Greg Norman, former world No. 1 and current CEO of LIV Golf Investments. He followed Koepka all the way to the green of the first hole, only taking his leave once Koepka was onto the second hole.
They may have been behind a set of sunglasses, but Norman’s eyes, much like those of the fans behind him, were glued on his latest recruiting prize.
Koepka, a former world No. 1 and four-time major champion, was among newest LIV Golf additions to play their first tournament as members of the controversial tour at the Portland Invitational. LIV Golf is financed by The Public Investment Fund, the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia. Koepka had previously said he was happy sticking with the PGA Tour.
“Opinions change, and I feel very comfortable with the decision I made,” Koepka said Tuesday. “I’m happy, and I did what’s best for me.”
The event doubled as the first LIV Golf tournament played in the United States, following the debut tournament played outside London earlier in the month. A news conference from a group of 9/11 family members and survivors denouncing the event took place Thursday morning.
LIV Golf officially announced Koepka’s addition to the new tour on June 22 through its social media accounts and website. It occurred in the middle of a news conference featuring Jay Monahan, the commissioner of the PGA Tour, who was detailing a series of changes coming to the PGA Tour in the wake of LIV’s emergence.
It was Monahan’s first public appearance since The Players Championship in March.
Koepka was joined Thursday by fellow LIV Golf newcomers Bryson DeChambeau, Patrick Reed, Abraham Ancer and Matthew Wolff. Of the newcomers, Ancer and Wolff joined Koepka in teeing off at Pumpkin Ridge’s first hole.
Just behind Koepka’s group were DeChambeau, Graeme McDowell and Dustin Johnson. Whenever DeChambeau lined up for a shot, he was occasionally flanked by a content team snapping photos and shooting video.
That wouldn’t have been allowed by the PGA Tour, according to a tweet from Dan Rapaport of Golf Digest, and may have factored into DeChambeau’s decision to jump ship for LIV Golf.
“One of the things for me it was a personal business decision,” DeChambeau said Tuesday. “For me I run and operate my golf as a business as well as wanting to be one of the better players in the world.”
Koepka finished the first round in sixth place after firing a 2-under-par 70, while DeChambeau was tied for 14th after an even 72.
Another newcomer, Carlos Ortiz, ended Thursday leading the field after a 5-under 67. Ortiz, who didn’t officially join the tour until Monday, said the team format was a driving force for him.
“I always grew up playing team events for Mexico and I love the format,” he said. “I loved playing in college, so it just makes me almost play better.”
Johnson, another former world No. 1 with 24 career victories on the PGA Tour, finished the opening round in second place after shooting a 4-under 68. He headlined the tour’s debut in London and was the leader among LIV Golf members at the U.S. Open last week, finishing tied for 24th place.
— Luke Norton, The Oregonian/OregonLive
