Disruption in Dallas: Brooks Koepka fined and suspended after ugly LIV Golf blow-up

Brooks Koepka, 35, a former World Number One and five-time Major champion, is one of the most recognised names in world golf. Despite showing glimpses of form at the recent U.S. Open, Koepka admitted that he has underperformed by his own high standards. He currently ranks 20th in the LIV Golf Individual Standings and 269th in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR).

Playing in the LIV Golf League, Koepka endured a difficult start at LIV Golf Dallas, held last week at Maridoe Golf Club. His round quickly unravelled with a pair of early triple bogeys. Then, on the ninth hole, he pulled his tee shot left—and frustration got the better of him.

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Koepka smashed his driver into the ground before turning and striking a tee marker, which ricocheted into the gallery. He then stormed off the tee box. The disturbing moment was captured and widely shared on social media platforms, sparking concern due to the apparent risk posed to nearby spectators.

Shortly after, Koepka withdrew from the tournament citing illness. He was replaced by reserve player Luis Carrera to maintain compliance with the LIV Golf League team format. While Koepka had the option to return for the remaining rounds to contribute to his team’s score, he chose not to do so.

The incident raised immediate questions:

• Will Koepka face a fine or suspension?

• Should he?

• Will the LIV Golf League make its findings public?

Over the weekend, LIV Golf released the following statement:

“We have imposed a financial sanction and a suspension from future LIV Golf events on Brooks Koepka following his conduct during the first round of LIV Dallas. Player safety, fan safety, and professionalism remain top priorities within our league, and this behavior does not reflect the values we expect from our athletes. The safety of our fans and the integrity of our tournaments are non-negotiable.”

Golf is widely respected for its long-standing tradition of sportsmanship, decorum, and self-discipline. While tempers occasionally flare, such overt emotional outbursts remain rare—and when they occur, they tend to dominate headlines.

There have been a handful of recent incidents involving player misbehavior in professional golf, both on and off the course. With growing prize funds, increasing public scrutiny, and razor-thin margins between success and failure, it’s no surprise that emotions occasionally spill over.

Still, the sport walks a fine line: it needs compelling personalities like Koepka to draw global audiences—but must also uphold its values and maintain discipline. The question now is where that line is drawn, and how consistent the Tours will be in enforcing it.

We hope to see Brooks Koepka retur soon, healthy and back to his best—letting his clubs, not his temper, do the talking.