It’s not been a great PGA Championship for LIV Golf’s aging crop of big-money major winners. Dustin Johnson missed the cut with a 78-76 that had the armchair warriors screaming “washed!” Phil Mickelson joined him after taking four hacks to get out of a greenside bunker on Friday, finishing his tournament at nine-over par. Then there was Brooks Koepka, who looked like a shell of his former PGA-dominating self while going 75-76 during the first two rounds Quail Hollow. It wasn’t so long ago that these men were dominating pro golf, raising the very real question:

Has LIV Golf (and it’s exorbitant, guaranteed paydays) snuffed out these superstars’ competitive fire?

Brooks Koepka, the only LIV pro not named Bryson to win a major in the post-split era, was confronted with that question on Friday at Quail Hollow when a heckler blurted out “that’s what guaranteed money does to ya Brooks!” as the three-time PGA champ walked by. Koepka considered taking the high-road for about 15 feet, before turning around and firing back, “You want to come down here and say it?” Needless to say, that shut up the peanut gallery in a hurry.

WATCH — LIV Golf’s Brooks Koepka claps back at a heckler.

Heckler: “Guaranteed money does that Brooks!”

Brooks: “You wanna come down here and say it?” pic.twitter.com/EB9dOLJPK5

— Ways To Golf (@WaysToGolf) May 17, 2025

RELATED: Here’s the record prize money payout for each golfer at Quail Hollow Club

There’s just something in the air at Quail Hollow this week. Tensions are running extremely high. We’ve seen both Tyrrell Hatton and Shane Lowry throw spectacular tantrums. Rory McIlroy got nabbed with a non-conforming driver and Hunter Mahan ignited a war of words with the club’s president after comparing the course to a Kardashian. Now Brooks Koepka is inviting fans to meet him in the parking lot after his shift. It’s not a great look for anybody, least of all the players, who have cameras trained on them every second they’re on the course.

That said, this one isn’t on Koepka. Should he have resisted the bait? Yes. Is there some truth to what the fan said? Sure. But hecklers are one of the lowest forms of humanity, down there with insurance-claim inspectors and miracle-cure grifters.

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Main Image: Maddie Meyer/PGA of America

The post PGA Championship 2025: Brooks Koepka invites heckler to ‘come down here and say it,’ continues the bad vibes at Quail Hollow appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.