Page 16 - aruba-today-20220629

A16 sports
Wednesday 29 June 2022
Blunt talk means saying LIV Golf is all about money

By DOUG FERGUSON $150 million. That’s twice as
AP Golf Writer much as Johnson’s career
Brooks Koepka likes to earnings after 15 years on
boast about his honesty. the tour.
He takes as much pride in In some respects, Koepka
being bold and blunt as he went back on his word
does in his remarkable re- twice.
cord in the major champi- He was the second player,
onships. behind McIlroy, to speak
He does not shy from criti- out against the “Premier
cism if he feels it is warrant- Golf League” concept
ed. Koepka once accused that had Saudi financing
Patrick Reed of cheating and promised big riches, a
by “building sand castles” team format, limited fields
in a waste area in the Ba- — everything Norman has
hamas. He left no doubt now delivered.
about his feelings for Bryson “I have a hard time believ-
DeChambeau, a long list. ing golf should be about just
“I’m always going to speak 48 players,” he said in an in-
my mind and tell you what I terview with The Associated
think, and I think everybody Press, right before golf was
in this room knows that,” he paused for three months
said at a PGA Champion- because of the COVID-19
ship preview day in 2020. pandemic. “Money isn’t
And now he has a chance going to change my life,”
to speak the truth about Brooks Koepka watches his shot on the 11th hole during the second round of the U.S. Open golf he said. “There’s something
tournament at The Country Club, Friday, June 17, 2022, in Brookline, Mass.
his decision to go back Associated Press to be said about freedom
on his word and join the of playing. I get to choose.
Saudi-funded rebel league ey. ing after his inflammatory And that somebody turned To me, it’s not worth it. I’m
known as LIV Golf. Of course, money never remarks about the Saudis out to be him. happy with how things
It’s about the money. It’s came up when Koepka and the PGA Tour, after Mickelson showed his hand are.”
that simple. spoke to the media on Dustin Johnson and Bryson months ago in a couple That was more than two
This is not a “force for good,” Tuesday for the first time DeChambeau said they of interviews when he ac- years ago.
the message Greg Norman since his decision was re- were sticking with the PGA cused the PGA Tour of “ob- And then Koepka said in
has been trying to preach vealed. He simply spoke his Tour, after Rory McIlroy de- noxious greed” and said he Phoenix this year: “It’s been
and too many of his pup- mind, just like always, only clared the rebel league and a few other top play- pretty clear for a long time
pets have been repeating. he was of a different mind. “dead in the water.” ers had hired lawyers to now that I’m with the PGA
The 22 former or soon-to- “My opinion changed,” he “I think there will still be write the new league’s op- Tour, it’s where I’m staying.
be-suspended PGA Tour said, a phrase he used no talk,” Koepka said in Feb- erating agreement. Joining I’m very happy. I think they
members in Oregon for the fewer than six times. ruary. “Everyone talks LIV Golf was not a surprise. do things the right way,
LIV Golf Invitational are not Koepka was the latest ex- about money. They’ve got Johnson was the biggest people I want to do busi-
there for the innovative for- ample that everyone has a enough of it. I don’t see it fish the Shark landed. The ness with.”
mat, or to test themselves price. He actually said that backing down. They can temptation had been But that’s not what led Mc-
against the best, or even to himself four months ago at just double up and they’ll strong all along, and then Ilroy to say Koepka was
win tournaments. the Honda Classic. figure it out. They’ll get their he got an offer he couldn’t being “duplicitous” by say-
They are getting paid an This was one week after Phil guys. Somebody will sell out ignore. The Daily Telegraph ing one thing and doing
obscene amount of mon- Mickelson went into hid- and go to it.” reported his signing fee at another.q

AP source: Westbrook exercises $47M

option with Lakers

neither Westbrook — a past will make this the fifth and fi- playoffs, fired coach Frank
NBA MVP and one of the nal season of a $207 million Vogel after the season and
league’s top 75 all-time contract he signed with the Westbrook has taken much
players — nor the Lakers re- Oklahoma City Thunder. of the blame for what hap-
vealed the decision public- The nine-time All-Star has pened.
ly. ESPN first reported West- been well-traveled since — He averaged 18.5 points,
brook’s decision. he was traded to Houston 7.4 rebounds and 7.1 assists
It certainly was not a sur- in 2019, traded to Washing- in 78 games with the Lakers.
prise, considering West- ton in 2020 and was moved Only four other players —
Los Angeles Lakers guard Russell Westbrook (0) controls the brook would not have com- to the Lakers in 2021. two-time reigning NBA MVP
ball during an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans manded anywhere near That created what was Nikola Jokic of Denver,
Pelicans in Los Angeles, Friday, April 1, 2022. $47.1 million for this coming supposed to be a great James Harden of Philadel-
Associated Press
season had he chosen to trio: Westbrook alongside phia, Luka Doncic of Dal-
By TIM REYNOLDS person with direct knowl- become a free agent. He’ll LeBron James and Anthony las and Dejounte Murray
AP Basketball Writer edge of the decision said turn 34 next season, his 15th Davis. of San Antonio — finished
Los Angeles Lakers guard Tuesday. in the NBA. It didn’t work out anywhere the season with higher av-
Russell Westbrook is exer- The person spoke to The Westbrook had until near as planned. The Lak- erages than Westbrook
cising his option to play for Associated Press on condi- Wednesday to make up his ers were dogged by inju- had in those three stat
$47.1 million next season, a tion of anonymity because mind on the option, which ries all season, missed the categories.q