” Woods Left in the Dark as Brooks Koepka Reportedly Ignores Him for Open Practice Round: ‘I’ve Heard Nothing’”
Tiger Woods’ injuries mean he isn’t likely to hear from anyone in the build-up to The Open – but at least this time he won’t be asking to.
Once hailed as golf’s biggest draw, Tiger Woods used to have fellow pros lining up for the chance to join him in practice rounds ahead of the sport’s grandest stages. But things shifted dramatically when he attempted to play Royal Portrush for the first time in 2019.
Ahead of The 148th Open, the three-time Champion Golfer of the Year reached out to then-World No. 1 Brooks Koepka for advice. Though Koepka was also making his debut at Portrush, he had a distinct advantage—his caddie, Ricky Elliott, was born and raised in the Northern Ireland town and knew the course inside out. Elliott, who’s been on Koepka’s bag since 2013, is also a skilled golfer in his own right.
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Woods was hoping to tap into that local knowledge—and perhaps size up Koepka, who arrived at the tournament with four major titles in his last nine appearances. But when Woods asked Koepka if he’d like to team up for a practice round, the reply was… silence.
“I texted Brooksie to congratulate him on another great finish,” Woods recalled with a laugh, referring to Koepka’s runner-up spot at the U.S. Open. “What he’s done in the last four majors has been unbelievable. I said, ‘Hey dude, do you mind if I tag along for a practice round?’ I’ve heard nothing.”
The crowd erupted in laughter as Woods grinned, clearly amused by the snub.
Just days later, Koepka offered an explanation that cleared the air. Speaking after a solid opening round of 68, he said the reason he didn’t reply was simple: he never got the message.
“I changed my phone number after the U.S. Open because it got leaked,” Koepka told Sky Sports. “I got about 40 texts, so I switched it Monday night. We don’t text that often, so I didn’t see anything from him. But I texted him on Wednesday from the new number and he replied—‘no worries.’”
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As for Woods, his 2019 Open campaign got off to a rough start. A disastrous seven-over-par round left him tied for 143rd, and he missed the cut alongside Phil Mickelson—marking the first time both legends had failed to advance in the same major out of 83.
Woods won’t be seeking redemption at Portrush this week, either. A ruptured Achilles sustained in March has sidelined the 15-time major winner from all four majors this year. Now 49, he hasn’t competed in a PGA Tour event in over a year, and whenever he does return, he’ll need more than just a few practice rounds to get back into form.
