World No 2 Jon Rahm also rules himself out
Sunday 15 March 2020 22:46, UK
Four-time major champion Brooks Koepka says he will not be joining the lucrative Premier Golf League.
The world No 3 is the latest big star to say no to the proposed breakaway tour to stay with the PGA Tour.
Koepka told The Associated Press. "I am out of the PGL. I'm going with the PGA Tour.
"I have a hard time believing golf should be about just 48 players."
The planned breakaway league would be an 18-tournament circuit of 54-hole events and featuring 48 of the world's best players.
It is believed to be heavily financed by Saudi investors and plans to change golf by putting together 12 four-man teams that would be required to play 18 events, with 10 in the USA.
The total prize money would be $240m, and the top player could earn as much as $50m.
Koepka talked about his fears for his fellow professionals if the Premier Golf League (PGL) went ahead.
"I get that the stars are what people come to see. But these guys who we see win, who have been grinding for 10 or 15 years, that's what makes the cool stories.
"I'd have a hard time looking at guys and putting them out of a job."
"Money isn't going to change my life", he said. "There's something to be said about freedom of playing.
"I get to choose. To me, it's not worth it. I'm happy with how things are. When life is good and it's real good you don't want to change it. I think the PGA Tour is run beautifully."
The news means the top three golfers in the world have turned down the new league, as world No 2 Jon Rahm also refused to consider a new future.
The 25-year-old Spaniard told Golfweek: "I think what I'm going to do is focus on just the PGA Tour.
"At the end of the day I'm a competitor. I'm a PGA Tour member and I'm going to stay that way.
"I'm a young player. The PGA Tour has been doing things extremely well. Hopefully I have a long career ahead on the PGA Tour".
Koepka revealed he made up his mind a month ago after meeting organisers, but wanted to make the announcement when there was no possibility of a distraction.
Rory McIlroy, who replaced Koepka at the top of the world rankings last month, has also declined to join the Premier Golf League.
McIlroy said in February: "The more I've thought about it, the more I don't like it.
"The one thing as a professional golfer in my position that I value is the fact that I have autonomy and freedom over everything that I do.
"I pick and choose, and this is a perfect example. Some guys this week made the choice to not come to Mexico [for the WGC-Mexico Championship], but if you go and play this other golf league, you're not going to have that choice."
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