The Valspar Championship was put on hold on Saturday after a girl was struck by a golf cart, prompting Brooks Koepka, who recently switched to LIV Golf before returning to the PGA Tour, to take immediate action. Koepka rushed over to offer comfort to the girl who was stuck beneath the moving cart amid the crowd while he was playing the par-3 15th hole.
According to NBC Sports broadcaster Dan Hicks, although the girl was pinned under the cart, fortunately, she didn’t sustain any serious injuries.
Smiley Kaufman, reporting on the scene, noted that once the girl receives medical attention, she should be alright. He described the situation as “very scary.”
After finishing his round, Koepka, who currently sits tied for 13th at 5 under, shared his thoughts on the incident. He expressed, “I felt terrible. I think her name is Shay. Fortunately, from what I hear, she’s okay. As long as she’s fine, that’s what matters.”
He added, “I just hope she’s not too scared. I was really thinking about her at that moment. It’s unfortunate, and it really shouldn’t have happened, but as long as she’s alright, it’s fine.” Koepka reassured that the incident didn’t distract him from his game afterwards.
Having made headlines for coming back to the PGA Tour after leaving LIV Golf, Koepka cited a desire to spend more family time as pivotal in his decision to end his agreement with LIV Golf. His attorney mentioned that Koepka felt the international travel was severe and taking him away from his loved ones.
The PGA Tour reportedly welcomed him back enthusiastically. His attorney remarked on the positive sentiments surrounding Koepka’s return, noting, “He’s excited to reconnect with the players and approach this with humility and grace.”
So far this season, Koepka has participated in four tournaments, achieving a mix of results with one top-10 finish and two in the top 25.
