Brooks Koepka Ready For A Monster Equipment Deal?

For that Post-U.S. Open Viewing hangover, these Wednesday additives:

Your 2017 United States Open Champion does not have an equipment deal.

Lucky for him.

The number it will take to sign him just went up like a skyrocket.

It was a mixed-bag for Brooks Koepka.

Here’s what the big guy was using last week at Erin Hills:

Driver:  TaylorMade M2 9.5 degrees (2016 model);  3-Wood:  TaylorMade M2 15 degrees (2017 model).

Driving Iron:  Nike Vapor Fly Pro.  Irons (4-PW):  Mizuno JPX-900.

Wedges:  Titleist Vokey SM5 (48 & 60 degree).

Putter:  Scotty Cameron Tour Only T10 Newport 2.   Ball:   Titleist ProV1x.

Brooks’ caddie was still toting that old Nike bag.

So the 27-year-old major champion is an equipment free agent.  No doubt his agent is a happy guy.

Fox Television Coverage Barely Tolerable:

It’s what you get when the USGA sells its soul to the highest bidder.  As Joe Buck babbled and babbled over the four days, it makes you really appreciate Jim Nance.  Buck is simply horrible and his shining moment came at the end when he mis-identified Brooks’ Koepka’s girlfriend.  Good thing the new king of golf gossip, Brad Faxon, was around to correct him.

Darren Clarke was awkward at best, never really added anything of substance.  Paul Azinger isn’t bad.  Curtis Strange is as personable as he was when he was a player, in other words — a real jerk.  His big reveal came when Rickie Fowler gave a short pre-round interview to which Curtis observed:  “I would NEVER DO THAT!”  Of course you wouldn’t Curtis and we wouldn’t bother to ask you either.

Holly Sonders is a failed experiment for Fox.  Great eye-candy but she’s uncomfortable in the role and couldn’t operate the graphics correctly.

The only good thing about Fox is its technology.  That was good.  Otherwise, it was just another U.S. Open where Fox once again demonstrated how inferior it is to the golf talent and coverage teams at CBS and NBC.

Erin Hills, Hard Course Or Easy Course?:

Erin Hills took a lot of abuse for the high scores, the number of players under par and the 63 on Saturday by Justin Thomas then the 16-under winning score by Koepka.

The only question we have:  If it was so damn easy, how did Dustin Johnson (No. 1), Rory McIlroy (No. 2) and Jason Day (No. 3) all manage to miss the 36-hole cut?  It was a first-ever moment since the world rankings started in 1986.

Top Three Meltdown:

Speaking of Johnson, McIlroy and Day, they demonstrated that you just can’t show up at a U.S. Open and expect to succeed.  Johnson was obviously distracted by the birth of his and Paulina Gretsky’s second son.  McIlroy showed the effects of the layoff from his recurring rib injury and Day hasn’t done much all year.  Shame on those guys.  Too much money, questionable motivation.

The X-Man Cometh:

Little known Xander Schauffele hung around all  week and invaded the top 10, finishing in a tie for fifth, same as Rickie Fowler.  The “X-Man” won his card via the Web.com  Tour and hasn’t done squat on the PGA Tour until last week at Erin Hills.  Will his performance give him the confidence he needs to make the FedEx Cup Playoffs?   Keep an eye on him.

On To Shinnecock Hills:

Time for a return to a more “traditional” U.S.  Open venue.  The 2018 championships will be played at Shinnecock Hills.  Look for huge, enthusiastic crowds.

PGA Tour Revises Drug/Suspension Policy:

And finally this about-face from PGA Tour Headquarters.  The Tour has announced that if a player tests positive for what it terms “recreational” drugs, the tour will make the suspensions public.  Also, the Tour also announced that it will reserve the right to blood-test.  It’s the only way to detect HGH use.