Brooks Koepka finally has a tee time. And an admirable mindset

Brooks Koepka, after a couple of weeks of waiting around for a tee time, finally has one at the Myrtle Beach Classic this week.getty images

Rory McIlroy, Cameron Young and the top-ranked golfers in the world are in Charlotte this week, about to tee off for the Truist Championship with a purse of $20 million on the line. And 175 miles away, Brooks Koepka is in Myrtle Beach, an opposite-field event, playing for a purse just one fifth that size.

Don’t feel too bad for the guys at the Myrtle Beach Classic, where a win is still worth 300 FedExCup points and a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour. But it is worth pointing out Koepka actually has a tee time this week, a feat that hasn’t been a guarantee lately. The Myrtle Beach Classic will be his first individual stroke-play event since the Masters (he also played the Zurich Classic) — although not for lack of trying.

At Harbour Town for the RBC Heritage, Koepka waited to get in as an alternate but never had his name called. The same happened last week at the Cadillac Championship at Trump National Doral, but again, no dice.

“When you sit around on Wednesday and Thursday and you’re practicing, you’re watching everybody else go play, it’s not that much fun,” Koepka said Wednesday from Dunes Golf and Beach Club in South Carolina. “I’m just itching to play. I don’t care where I’m playing as long as I’ve got a chance to tee it up out here; I’m extremely excited and grateful for the opportunity.”

‘Tis life for Koepka, who returned to the PGA Tour this year via the Returning Member Program after 3 1/2 years at LIV Golf. His World Ranking suffered while at LIV — the league didn’t receive points until this season — and per his agreement is not allowed to accept sponsor invites into Signature Events. He instead has to rely on playing well and improving his ranking to get in.

“Listen, the way I look at it is I’m itching to get in, but I’m accepting of where I’m at, and I understand that there’s prices to pay for coming back, and I’m willing to accept those and whatever I have to do,” Koepka said. “I knew this year was going to be challenging to even get in [Signature Events]. I kind of thought maybe by around U.S. Open, but to know that I’m kind of knocking on the door already is a good thing. Just the answer to everything is play better, and you’re in.”