The golf world was hit with another LIV Golf related barrage of news yesterday, stemming from the scandalous excerpts taken out of journalist Alan Shipnuck's new book about the Saudi-backed tour, LIV and Let Die: The Inside Story of the War Between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf (set for release on October 17).
Among the quotes taken from the book are an account from an anonymous player that was a former Ryder Cup teammate of Rory McIlroy who says "F*ck Rory. I'm so sick of hearing about how he's some kind of hero who is saving golf."
Another juicy tidbit recalls the JP McManus Pro-Am that was held at Adare Manor in July 2022, and a private gathering between LIV Golf players, including Pat Perez, Dustin Johnson, and Brooks Koepka.
The following extract details a rant from Koepka - the only LIV player at the this year's Ryder Cup:
"Fuck all of those country club kids who talk shit about me,” he said, referring to the likes of Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth and others. “You think I give a fuck what they think? You think I care what people say about me? I just had three surgeries, and I’m supposed to turn down $130 million? I grew up with nothing. After signing that contract, the first person I called was my mom. We both cried.”
Justin Thomas Speaks Out Against New Book On LIV Golf
I’d like to speak on behalf of a lot of Tour players and say we’re sick of @AlanShipnuck doing what he does. Bring positivity and good stories to help grow the game of golf, not try and make money bashing guys, earning zero trust, with a lot of incorrect information. Ridiculous
— Justin Thomas (@JustinThomas34) October 5, 2023
The reference to Thomas and Spieth is vague, and it is unclear whether Koepka specifically name dropped those two players, or whether it was just an assumption from Shipnuck.
Thomas has also come out on Twitter - replying to Kyle Porter's tweet about the aforementioned McIlroy comments - and said "I’d like to speak on behalf of a lot of Tour players and say we’re sick of @AlanShipnuck doing what he does. Bring positivity and good stories to help grow the game of golf, not try and make money bashing guys, earning zero trust, with a lot of incorrect information. Ridiculous".
Just to clarify, the only time my son @BKoepka and I cried together was when he was born. He was testing lungs for the first time; I was glad the pregnancy ordeal was over. End of story.
— denise jakows (@DJakows) October 4, 2023