Brooks Koepka Told To ‘Shut the F*ck Up’ After Losing His Cool Over Wrong Club Mishap in 2018

Brooks Koepka and his caddie, Rickie Elliott, have shared a strong partnership for over a decade. The Northern Irishman has been by Koepka’s side since 2013, helping him navigate the highs and lows of professional golf. Their teamwork has led to incredible success, and after Koepka’s win at the 2023 PGA Championship, Elliott became the most accomplished Irish caddie in history. While the pairing has in most cases been successful, such a long tenure would obviously involve some disagreements.

Although there was nothing major, Brooks Koepka did not talk to Rickie Elliott for a while, and the 2018 St. Jude Classic at Memphis was the reason. Fresh from defeating Tiger Woods with a two-stroke lead at the PGA Championship, Brooks Koepka entered with full zeal to bag another win at the FedEx St. Jude Championship. However, he managed to slow down by the next three found and settled for a T30. But the first round was a consecutive whirlwind of birdies from the 18th hole to the third hole.

They both were part of the latest video on the YouTube Channel of Smash GC discussing their journey. Brooks Koepka was asked about the time he was the maddest at Ricky Elliott. That was when he spoke about 2018 at Memphis, and Ricky agreed. “Didn’t speak to (him), we got into an argument. It was a lot of—would have been great to be miked up during those two minutes. I think I blamed him for hitting the wrong club, even though I hit the shot well,” said Brooks Koepka. Ricky Elliott went on mimicking Koepka and sharing how he nagged about the day not being his, which was followed by a shot down the middle. The disagreement stemmed from a decision to hit the driver instead of a 3-wood, which ended up putting Koepka in a tough spot behind a tree.

Frustration boiled over, and Elliott, feeling the tension, finally let his thoughts slip. “I just like slipped out, actually just said, ‘Could you shut the f*** up?’” Elliott admitted. “Even if he fires me, it might be a good way to get out of here, you know what I mean?” After that moment, silence took over. Koepka, seemingly unbothered, refocused on his game. “We never said anything for the rest of the day,” Elliott said. “But the next tee, he drove it down the middle, hit about a seven-iron, and I sort of shook the bag—like he had taken the seven out himself.”

What followed was an impressive run. Koepka birdied the next hole, then continued his momentum, picking up more birdies without a word exchanged between the two. Elliott understood the moment and stuck to an unspoken rule in golf. “Whenever these guys are going well, you don’t change what’s happening,” he explained. “You don’t all of a sudden start telling jokes whenever the guy just birdied five in a row. You just keep miserable.”

Despite the intense exchange, the moment proved to be a turning point, pushing Koepka into a birdie streak. It was a testament to the kind of trust and chemistry the duo shares—a partnership built on honesty, even if it means telling your player to be quiet in the heat of the moment. Well, this was just one of the misunderstandings they faced together. The duo have been involved in several controversies.

The Great 2023 Ricky Elliott Masters Controversy

At the 2023 Masters, Brooks Koepka was paired with Gary Woodland and Danny Willett when an incident involving his caddie, Ricky Elliott, caught his attention. After Koepka struck a 5-iron on the par-5 15th, cameras appeared to show Elliott mouthing “five” to Woodland’s caddie. This raised concerns about a possible violation of Rule 10-2a, which prohibits players and caddies from sharing club selection information with competitors.

Paul McGinley, a former pro and analyst, later admitted that such exchanges are fairly common. However, tournament officials reviewed the footage and called the group into the clubhouse for clarification. Ultimately, Augusta National announced that all parties denied any wrongdoing. Koepka defended Elliott in his post-round press conference, stating, “They didn’t even know because— I know that fact because GW asked me what we hit walking off when we were walking down. So that’s all I can give you.”

While that controversy faded, Elliott found himself in another tense moment at the 2023 Ryder Cup. The fiery exchange between Rory McIlroy and Patrick Cantlay’s caddie, Joe LaCava, spilled beyond the course. Reports suggested McIlroy, still fuming, wanted to confront Team USA’s locker room but was stopped by teammates. Later at the hotel, he ran into Elliott and lashed out at him as well. Fred Couples later shared Elliott’s account, revealing, “Rory McIlroy went at me in the middle of the foyer at the hotel.” However, the situation didn’t escalate further, and McIlroy later apologized.

Despite these moments, Koepka has nothing but praise for Elliott, calling him much more than just a caddie. “He’s a great dude. He was a groomsman at my wedding. He’s one of my best friends… I think the ideal caddie is just knowing what your player is going to do before they even do it.” Their bond and trust remain unshaken, proving that Elliott plays an invaluable role in Koepka’s success. What do you think about the role of a caddie in high-pressure moments? Share your thoughts!

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