News
Brooks Koepka does not appear happy with being left off ESPN’s list of most dominant athletes for 2018
On Tuesday, ESPN The Magazine released their list of the 20 most dominant athletes of 2018. Amongst that list included household names such as Lebron James, Novak Djokovic and Drew Brees, while the American gymnast, Simone Biles, took the top spot on ESPN’s list.
One man who did not appear amongst the roll of honor of sporting royalty, however, was golf’s Brooks Koepka. The 28-year-old captured two major championships in 2018, but that wasn’t enough for him to feature on ESPN’s list, which included the triple crown winning horse, Justify, in 16th place.
Learning of his exclusion, Koepka took to social media and made this post, which suggested that he was not too pleased with his omission.
???????????? pic.twitter.com/hboyNl753P
— Brooks Koepka (@BKoepka) December 11, 2018
The list evaluated athletes against their fellow competitors, and then analysed their performance against the accomplishments of other great athletes within their sport from 1998 to present.
Explaining Simone Biles score of 3.25, the compiler of the list Peter Keating stated “So what does Simone Biles’ dominance score of 3.25 mean? In 2018, she was 3.25 standard deviations better than the typical top-four performer in all-around women’s gymnastics since 1998—rendering her the year’s most dominant pro athlete.”
The LPGA’s Ariya Jutanurgarn was the only golfer to feature on the list, who Keating judged to have been the fourth most dominant athlete of 2018. The Thai player won three times on Tour in 2018, which is the same number of times as Koepka; however, just one of those wins was a major championship title, compared to Koepka’s two major victories this year. Jutanugarn did, though, have a total of 13 top-five finishes in 2018, compared to Koepka’s five, and also won every year-end LPGA award that was possible for her to win.
In the past, Koepka has spoken concerning the lack of respect that he feels that he is given, in particular by the media. The American has previously suggested that certain players get their names written about more than him because they “kiss up”, and this year the current world number one let the press know that he doesn’t forget an insult, stating “Come Sunday, I won’t forget it when everyone wants to talk to me because I just won. I don’t forget things.”
Judging by Koepka’s reaction on social media to ESPN’s list, this will be yet another incident that the 28-year-old is unlikely to forget. The chip that Koepka carries around on his shoulder has fueled him to win three of the last six major championships that he has appeared in, and this latest snub from the media has given him plenty of incentive to once again prove people wrong in 2019.
GolfWRXers, was Koepka’s omission from the list justified, or another show of disrespect towards golf’s current best player?
In our forums, one user is wondering how many birdies other players have had in a round while still failing to break par. @Lalan45, unfortunately, asked the question after a unique experience of their own.
They wrote:
“Today I managed 8 birdies but still shot even par, could have been a round to remember! What’s the most birdies you’ve made in a round and still didn’t break par?”
Our members in the forum shared their own experiences with successful rounds that still resulted in a score over par. Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- kwcsports: “I’ve had 5 a few times, still shot 80+ haha.”
- jda: “I played a course for the first time, had 8 birdies, 9 doubles and an eagle. The infamous no-par round. I kept the scorecard. Every shot had a creek that I did not know about, or I was within 8-10 feet for a birdie look. To this day, I have no idea if I should be really jacked up or mad about that performance.”
- jvincent: “I think my record is either 5 or 6. Probably shot 75.”
- Instron4204: “3 birdies and shot a 92…man I suck!”
In our forums, one user is asking for thoughts on the best stock shafts offered in 2026. Stock shafts are the shafts included with a club when it’s purchased from retailers or OEMs.
@DTorres asked:
The last couple years has seen a lot of updates and additions to no upcharge stock shafts, which do you think is the best offering in 2026?
Im a bit of a shaft nerd and recently during my Members Testing with the Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond I found the updated Project X Denali Frost Black to be a fantastic stock shaft. I absolutely did not mesh well with the original Denali. Just curious what other people think are the current best Stock shaft offerings out with new models and stock Ventus options and LinQ options popping up here and there.
We were given the option for any stock shafts for our members review. I went with the 70g Black Frost 6.5 because it’s a shaft I don’t have, it’s an updated version of the original Denali and hear little about. I typically use a Diamana WB, GD VF or a HOF Raptor. I’m not saying it was neck and neck with any of those but it was a pleasant surprise I’m not accustomed to in stock shaft offerings.
Our members in the forum have been offering up their own thoughts on the best stock shafts available in 2026. Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- rsballer10: “IMO – MCA Ka’ili White Darkwave, Tensei 1k Black/white, UST Lin-Q White. People are free to spend their money however they see fit, but for me personally the shaft catalogs these days have enough options that I don’t see the value of a $400 upcharge. I have never had a problem finding a no upcharge shaft that fits the bend profile and weight that I need. Whether the paint job is good enough or not is above my pay scale.”
- bcflyguy1: “Project X Titan Black. I’ve had one in 60TX in my Quantum TD Max for several weeks now. Have to give Titlieist their flowers for finding a way to make it available as a featured option; very shrewd bit of business and one that I suspect will be duplicated by the other companies. TT/PX have a certified banger on their hands with Titan.”
- CTG77: “Undoubtedly, it’s the Tensei 1K RIP shafts from Titleist. The Tensei line gives about 98% of the performance of a Ventus VeloCore+ shaft at a tiny fraction of the cost if you’re looking for a blue or red profile. The white is not an exact match for Ventus Black, but it’s closer to it than the non-VeloCore+ Ventus shafts that come from Callaway or formerly came from TaylorMade.”
A reminder from your friends at GolfWRX: Father’s Day is June 21. And as we do every year, we’re rounding up the best gifts for dad.
As we say every year, there’s no better golf-related Father’s Day gift than a round of golf with pops. Be it a country club or your favorite muni, take the time to get together to play 18 if you can.
Let’s get to the gifts.
Ghost Golf Qualifier Diamond Polo
We like the new polos that Ghost is offering, as the fabric and fit are so good. These new Qualifier Collection polos breathe well, are lightweight, stretch with your swing, and of course look great. You can wear them on the course, in the office, or just out at a casual event and they will fit right in.
STR8-Strip Grip Tape Remover
If your dad is an equipment aficionado and tinkers with his clubs, this tool works wonders. Removing grip tape has never been easier, just put a little head on the tape and the STR8-Strip peals it right off the shaft without any damage.
Why Golf: Putting Thing
When it comes to practice, it is good to have a purpose. This “Putting Thing” sure does it. We know from personal experience how challenging it can be and how rewarding it is on the practice green. This also provides some competition for your kiddo to see who will unload the dishwasher or do the next chore around the house.
OluKai Lae‘ahi Men’s Breathable Slip-On Shoes
Riding to and from the course in style and comfort is always a good thing. If you’re in a hurry, it’s a nice feature to slide into your shoes and get to the tee time. For the post-game shoe, at your locker or while putting your clubs away in the car. Nice to slide into a shoe that looks good anywhere. Pair that with meeting the family for dinner, no need to change!
Therabody Theragun Relief
A little wellness goes a long way. Keeping loose is a good way to go when it comes to the weekend game or treatment during the week. If there is a little ache or pain, the Theragun is there to help out. Help loosen up the back for a pre-game warm-up or cool-down.
World Cup golf apparel
Something for the soccer dads. Embrace the World Cup fever this summer on the course with custom gear to support the nation of your choice.
FootJoy Pro SL spikeless golf shoes
Give the old man a break and save his feet with the Footjoy Pro SL Men’s Spikeless Golf Shoes for some added comfort on the course.
Bushnell Wingman 2 GPS speaker
Combine all the hits as well as some game improvement with the Wingman 2 Golf GPS Speaker by getting audible distance readings from 38,000+ courses worldwide through the Wingman 2 remote or speaker.
Personalized Titleist Pro V1 golf balls
The No. 1 ball in golf is a safe bet, and the Pro V1 fits the largest chunk of the bell curve if you don’t know what ball pops plays. Add personalization for a, well, personal touch!
- GolfWRX may earn a commission for purchases made through links on this page, at no extra cost to you.
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Victor
Dec 14, 2018 at 1:07 pm
Yes because 1. Not kissing up to the media 2. Never forgetting the media snubbed you and 3. Ignoring the media if you win again, is gonna be a sure fire way to get you more “media” attention.
Suck it up, suck up, and get a equipment deal so someone else can help market your “fake” brand, so you get paid more $$$
Ronald E Owens
Dec 14, 2018 at 12:58 pm
Who cares? Get over it! Consider whose list it is and in a list of things that REALLY matter, is this even on it? Didn’t think so.
JustWellsy
Dec 14, 2018 at 11:58 am
Who cares about ESPN anyway? What a terrible company… I’m glad they’re failing
nrgnovator
Dec 14, 2018 at 2:10 pm
Can’t agree more!!! ESPN has become (in general) a bunch of irrelevant, biased leftists who are desperately attempting to regain their respect and viewership that was lost due to their inability to keep their politics out of their sports coverage and commentary!
IMO
Dec 13, 2018 at 10:49 am
Remember golf is a game not a sport!!!! Who gives a hoot about ESPN, CNN, and MSNBC…
Jerry Updike
Dec 13, 2018 at 10:33 am
They put an actual animal in front of him, that’s hilarious.
The list is funny, Cormier isn’t even a top 5 mixed martial artist, let alone a top 3 athlete in the world. Mahomes and Harden must have really good agents.
Steve
Dec 12, 2018 at 11:01 pm
This list is meaningless, particularly for the women in it. In all women’s sports there’s a few dominate players at the top, and the rest just fill out the tournament. They’re also typically a lot better looking.
And why would you have Olympians on this list when…it’s not an Olympic year? Just because they beat up on whoever’s looking to scrape a paycheck by?
Bag a few more major next year BK; let the anger burn within you.
Tony Lynam
Dec 12, 2018 at 9:02 pm
ESPN? That network is still around?
Tommy
Dec 12, 2018 at 8:16 pm
But he doesn’t care…..right. I actually like what I’ve seen of Brooks as a person but you can’t demand respect…doesn’t work that way. Just zip it and keep winning…it’ll come, just like all the money did. Didn’t have to ask for that, did you?
Jack
Dec 12, 2018 at 6:03 pm
Interesting piece that highlights the wide-range of sports with these gifted athletes who have dominated in their respective fields (Thank you, @Gianni for the share). Two things of note:
First, ESPN’s list of most dominant athletes is clearly driven off quantitative metrics and makes no mention to how marketable [like-able] these individuals are. So to the many readers who have commented on Koepka’s personality or lack thereof and how this may have driven an omission from ESPN’s aforementioned list… irrelevant.
Second, has the LPGA missed the mark in terms of creating a buzz around such a talented player in Ariya Jutanugarn? Considering the likes of other women who too have had dominant stretches since ’98 (Sorenstam, Ochoa, Tseng, just to name a few) it seems to me that an organization that has notoriously struggled in growing their following should be able to capitalize on a female who is not only one of the most successful golfers on the LPGA, but rather one of the most dominant athletes in the world.
the dude
Dec 12, 2018 at 6:01 pm
good to see the olympic figure skater made the top 11……wow..
the dude
Dec 12, 2018 at 6:00 pm
He could win the grand slam….and 2 day’s later…”in other news” Not sure what it is…but he is lukewarm…kinda robotic out there. Not a aweful thing, just an awesome golfer that is boring…..
Brad
Dec 12, 2018 at 5:48 pm
Brooks Koepka doesn’t get included in the same breath as other “star” athletes in golf or other sports for two simple reasons – (1) he doesn’t kiss up to the media and (2) he isn’t signed to a big name OEM golf manufacturer.
If he were signed to ANY of the big OEM golf companies, their media departments would be out singing his praises from the rooftops and selling this fantastic, feel-good, “Cool Hand Brooks” persona to the media and golfing public.
Most of the players who people think are “cool” or “charismatic” are seen that way simply because their sponsors have manufactured that perception. There are exceptions, or those players who have such big personalities or are so exceptional that they don’t need anything “manufactured” such as Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman, John Daly, Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, etc. – but most of the “cool” golfers aren’t really that cool in person. I’ve met quite a lot of them and really, most of them aren’t any more charismatic or cool than the average Joe on the street, and the ones that are often aren’t the ones the public thinks would be cool to hang out with.
Travis
Dec 12, 2018 at 1:59 pm
His whole golf persona has been done many times over. He’s not unique in anything. He’s a great golfer but unmemorable in almost every way. The fact that he doesn’t have a club contract is actually working AGAINST him because he’s not even the face of any brand. So in the eyes of the fans he’s getting no face time.
He has no traits about him that make him memorable or marketable.
Aldo
Dec 12, 2018 at 1:35 pm
Oh Lord gimme a break. Poor baby earning over $5 million this season isn’t enough for simply playing a game well? Still need your ego stroked. I swear pro athletes along with actors/actresses, music artists all for the most part get paid exorbitant amounts of money for their jobs but still want public recognition. Don’t hear any complaint about no awards or list for best brain and heart surgeons or for emergency first responders or how about teachers. SMH
Gun Violent
Dec 12, 2018 at 9:04 pm
You can’t compare artists to sports athletes.
Art is opinion based, sports is achievement based.
It doesn’t matter whether you like a particular song or movie or whatever – it doesn’t mean it’s good, it doesn’t mean everybody has to like it.
In sports, you have to go achieve it. It doesn’t matter what anybody says, if you win, and get results, that’s what counts. And not all athletes are looking for public recognition, they are out there to get results.
That’s where you are wrong, and are confused, when you think your taste in music counts for something – it doesn’t. That movie that won an award? It doesn’t make it a good movie. It’s just somebody’s opinion. Same as food. Not everything will taste good for everybody.
Sports is not the same.
You have shown your lack of education.
Aldo
Dec 13, 2018 at 3:30 pm
Hey Gun Violet thanks for what appears to be your attempt to educate on the differences between objective and subjective. It fell flat as you missed my whole point and it wasn’t comparing peoples tastes in the arts to athletic accomplishments. Obviously artist and athletes have very different jobs but these artists and athletes already get paid unimaginable amounts of money for a job that us mere mortals look at as entertainment, past time, a hobby. And this great compensation for their work is not enough that they still need to hear praises and feel the pats on their back at awards shows or top 10 lists. Now you stated that not all athletes are looking for recognition but results but I think in this case the title of this article begs to differ. Koepka has the results, the money and has reached the pinnacle golf world #1. That alone should speaks volumes but sounds like his ego is still taking a hit for not being included in some ridiculous list.
Stay in school kids.
toyzrx
Dec 12, 2018 at 1:12 pm
The list is for athletes. Golfers don’t count period.
You suck
Dec 12, 2018 at 1:59 pm
Ummm, Jutanurgarn is on the list, so if this is a shot at a golfer you have failed. Now, go back to the t box and hits your 3rd
erlybrd
Dec 13, 2018 at 9:22 pm
Golf is something that athletes do in their off season. I’ve heard of Jutanurgan. Yeh a lot of guys who think golf is a sport watch girls golf I suppose, lol.
KevinS.
Dec 12, 2018 at 12:41 pm
You gotta be kidding me! ESPN providing such a list is akin to asking Nancy Pelosi who was the best U.S. president ever. It’s not the content of the list; it’s the source of the assessments that created the list.
Dave r
Dec 12, 2018 at 12:14 pm
Only one golfer in the top 20 anyway so who cares ! Why would any golfer be upset it’s only the opinion of some sports writer ?
Marc Tebo
Dec 12, 2018 at 11:13 am
He’s not marketable, it’s that simple. If this guy had just 1 inkling of personality people might start taking notice. He’s so BORING…
Mv
Dec 12, 2018 at 11:17 am
You’re assesment is spot on. He’s the most uninteresting man in the world.
A. Commoner
Dec 12, 2018 at 1:29 pm
Look at the so-called idols getting praise today. A ‘crass and crude’ mouth and general behavior is so prized and praised. “Swagger” valued by so many is simply obnoxious oafish acting. Reserved and professional behavior befitting of a champion should be welcomed instead of challenged. On the flip side, we have seen those who habitually gave only scripted and rehearsed tidbits to adoring audiences while keeping their distance from the “unwashed masses” who nonetheless loved them. Life is full of contradictions.
Gun Violent
Dec 12, 2018 at 11:06 am
This is good. It will help him spur on for the new season and will help him rip everybody a new one.
kevin
Dec 12, 2018 at 10:35 am
Koepka finished 2018 5th on the money list, 9th in fed ex standings, and won twice. yes they were majors but this guy was hardly dominant, and definitely not one of the most dominant athletes when looking at all athletes and all sports.
He is quickly becoming incredibly annoying though.
Thomas A
Dec 12, 2018 at 9:51 am
But, but…he doesn’t care, right? Or he does? I couldn’t tell you what his voice sounds like, btw. As if he would have something intelligent to say anyway.
Krooks Boepka
Dec 12, 2018 at 10:03 am
He’s too busy counting his millions and banging his model girlfriend to care, Thomas. Enjoy that high horse though, buddy.. suites you well.
Michael
Dec 12, 2018 at 9:30 am
Maybe if he had something to say, people might want to talk to him…
A. Commoner
Dec 12, 2018 at 5:00 pm
What’s the problem here? He might be Ben Hogan without the acidity.
Dan
Dec 12, 2018 at 9:21 am
I’m surprised they didn’t select Tiger bc it was “the greatest comeback in sports history” (sarcasm).
DarthBlader
Dec 12, 2018 at 9:12 am
It’s golf BK. Life goes on…