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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?
I’m going to gush in this intro paragraph, to get the emo stuff done early. I’ve not pulled harder for a professional to win, than Cameron Young. I coach golf in New York state, and each spring, my best golfers head to a state championship in Poughkeepsie. I first saw Cameron there as a 9th grade student. I saw him three more times after that. I reconnecected with Coach Haas from Wake Forest, an old interview subject from my days on the Old Gold and Black, the Wake newspaper. He was there to watch Cameron. After four years at Wake Forest, Young won on the Korn Ferry Tour, made it to the big tour, almost won two majors, almost won five other events, and finally got the chalice about 25 minutes from the Wake campus. Congratulations, Cameron. You truly are a glass of the finest. #MotherSoDear
OK, let’s move on to the Tour Rundown. The major championship season closed this week in Wales, with the Women’s Open championship. The PGA Tour bounced through Greensboror, N.C., while the PGA Tour Americas hit TO (aka, Toronto) for a long-winded event. The Korn Ferry lads made a stop in Utah, one of just two events for that tour in August. The many-events, golf season is winding down, as we ease from summer toward fall in the northern hemisphere. Let’s bask in the glory of an August sunrise, and run down a quartet of events from the first weekend of the eighth month.
LET/LPGA @ Women’s Open: Miyu bends, but she doesn’t break
Royal Porthcawl was not a known commodity in the major tournament community. The Welsh links had served as host to men’s senior opens, men’s amateurs, and Curtis and Walker Cups in prior years, but never an Open championship for the women or the men. The last-kept secret in UK golf was revealed once again to the world this week, as the best female golfers took to the sandy stage.
Mao Saigo, Grace Kim, Maja Stark, and Minjee Lee hoped to add a second major title to previous wins this season, but only Lee was able to finish inside the top ten. The 2025 playing of the Women’s Open gave us a new-faces gallery from day one. The Kordas and Thitikulls were nowhere to be found, and it was the Mayashitas, Katsus, and Lim Kims that secured the Cymru spotlight. The first round lead was held at 67 by two golfers. One of them battled to the end, while the other posted 81 on day two, and missed the cut. Sitting one shot behind was Miyu Yamashita.
On day two, Yamashita posted the round of the tournament. Her 65 moved her to the front of the aisle, in just her fourth turn around a women’s Open championship. With the pre-event favorites drifting off pace, followers narrowed into two camps: those on the side of an underdog, and others hoping for a weekend charge from back in the pack. In the end, we had a bit of both.
On Saturday, Yamashita bent with 74 on Saturday, offering rays of hope to her pursuing pack. England’s Charley Hull made a run on Sunday closing within one shot before tailing off to a T2 finish with Minami Katsu. Katsu posted the other 65 of the week, on Saturday, but could not overtake her countrywoman, Yamashita. wunderkind Lottie Woad needed one round in the 60s to find her pace, but could only must close-to’s, ending on 284 and a tie with Minjee for eighth.
On Sunday, Yamashita put away the thoughts of Saturday’s struggles, with three-under 33 on the outward half. She closed in plus-one 37, but still won by two, for a first Major and LPGA title.
PGA Tour @ Wyndham: Young gathers first title near home
Cameron Young grew up along the Hudson river, above metro New York, but he also calls Winston-Salem home. He spent four years as a student and athlete at Wake Forest University, then embarked on tour. This week in Greensboro, after a bit of a break, Young opened with 63-62, and revved the engine of Is this the week once more. Runner-up finishes at the Open, the PGA, and a handful of PGA Tour events had followers wonder when the day would come.
On Saturday, Young continued his torrid pace with 65, giving him a five-shot advantage over his closest pursuer. Sunday saw the Scarborough native open with bogey, then reel off five consecutive birdies to remind folks that his time had, at last, arrived. Pars to the 16th, before two harmless bogeys coming home, made Young the 1000th winner of an official PGA Tour event (dating back to before there was a PGA Tour) throughout history. What’s next? I have a suspicion, but I’m not letting on. Mac Meissner closed with 66 to finish solo 2nd, while Mark Hubbard and Alex Noren tied for third.
Korn Ferry Tour @ Utah Championship: Are you Suri it’s Julian?
Who knows exactly when the flower will bloom? Julian Suri played a solid careet at Duke University, then paid his dues on the world’s minor tours for three years. He won twice on two tours in Europe, in 2017. Since then, the grind has continued for the journeyman from New York city. At age 34, Suri broke through in Beehive state, outlasting another grinder (Spencer Levin) and four others, by two shots.
Taylor Montgomery began the week with 62, then posted 64, then 68, and finally, 70. That final round was his undoing. He finished in that second-place tie, two back of the leader. Trace Crowe, Barend Botha, and Kensei Hirata made up the last of the almost quintet. As for Suri, his Sunday play was sublime. His nines were 32 and 31, with his only radar blip a bogey at ten. He closed in style with one final birdie, to double his winning margin. Hogan bloomed late…might Suri?
PGA Tour Americas @ Osprey Valley Open presented by Votorantim Cimentos – CBM Aggregates
Some tournament names run longer than others. This week in Toronto, at the Heathlands course at TPC Toronto, we might have seen the longest tournament title in recorded history. The OVOPBVCCBMA was a splendid affair. It saw three rounds of 62 on Thursday, but of those early risers, only Drew Goodman would stick around until the end. 64 was the low tally on day two, and two of those legionnaires managed to finish inside the top three at week’s end. Saturday brought a 63 from Patrick Newcomb, and he would follow with 64 on Sunday, to finish solo fourth.
Who, then, ended up winning the acronym of the year? It turns out that Carson Bacha had the right stuff in TeeOhhh. Bacha and Jay Card III posted 63 and 64, respectively, on day four, to tie for medalist honors at 23-under 261. Nathan Franks was one shot adrift, despite also closing with 63. If you didn’t go low on Sunday, it was about the check, not the championship.
Bacha and JC3 returned to the 18th hole twice in overtime. Card nearly chipped in from the thick stuff for birdie, while Bacha peeked and shoved a ten-feet attempt at the win. On the second go-round, Card was long with his approach, into the native grasses once more. He was unable to escape, and a routine par from the fairway was enough to earn the former Auburn golfers a first KFT title.
Card III and Bacha both miss their birdie tries on the first playoff hole.
We’ll play 18 again @OspreyOpen. pic.twitter.com/vNpHTdkHDg
— PGA TOUR Americas (@PGATOURAmericas) August 3, 2025
GolfWRX is live this week from the final event of the PGA Tour’s regular season, the Wyndham Championship.
Photos are flowing into the forums from Sedgefield Country Club, where we already have a GolfWRX spirit animal Adam Schenk WITB and plenty of putters for your viewing pleasure.
Check out links to all our photos below, which we’ll continue to update as more arrive.
General Albums
- 2025 Wyndham Championship – Tuesday #1
- 2025 Wyndham Championship – Tuesday #2
- 2025 Wyndham Championship – Tuesday #3
WITB Albums
- Chandler Phillips – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Davis Riley – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Scotty Kennon – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Austin Duncan – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Will Chandler – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Kevin Roy – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Ben Griffin – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Peter Malnati – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Ryan Gerard – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Adam Schenk – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Kurt Kitayama – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Camilo Villegas – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Matti Schmid – WITB – 2025 Wyndham Championship
Pullout Albums
- Denny McCarthy’s custom Cameron putters – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Swag Golf putters – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Karl Vilips TM MG5 wedges – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- New Bettinardi putters – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Matt Fitzpatrick’s custom Bettinardi putters – 2025 Wyndham Championship
- Cameron putters – 2025 Wyndham Championship
See what GolfWRXers are saying and join the discussion in the forums.
Kurt Kitayama just won his 2nd PGA Tour event at the 3M Open. Kurt is a Bridgestone staffer but with just the ball and bag. Here are the rest of the clubs he used to secure a win at the 2025 3M Open.
Driver: Titleist GT3 (11 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD VF 7 TX
3-wood: Titleist GT1 3Tour (14.5 degrees, A3 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 8 TX
7-wood: Titleist GT1 (21 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 9 TX
Irons: TaylorMade P7CB (4), TaylorMade P7MB (5-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (52-12F, 56-14F), Vokey Design WedgeWorks (60-K*)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: Scotty Cameron Studio Style Newport 2 Tour Prototype
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy 1.0PT
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Ball: Bridgestone Tour B XS (with Mindset)
‘Why would anybody want to change that swing?’ – Brandel Chamblee says PGA Tour star was wrong to change his swing
‘The stupidest freaking thing I’ve ever heard’ – Billy Horschel slams Open idea suggested by Padraig Harrington
WITB Time Machine: Brandt Snedeker’s winning WITB, 2018 Wyndham Championship
Golfer proudly posts photo of ball mark on iron, receives immediate roasting
WITB Time Machine: Matthew Wolff’s winning WITB, 2019 3M Open
Oakmont Country Club bans Wyndham Clark over locker incident; Reveals specific conditions to earn reinstatement
Adam Scott puts Callaway blades in the bag at Wyndham Championship
Report: LIV star fires caddie and coach in shock shake up
Rickie Fowler makes equipment change to ‘something that’s a little easier on the body’
The championship formula: How 3 key stats separate winners from the field
Peter Malnati WITB 2025 (August)
Peter Malnati what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wyndham Championship. More photos from the event here. Driver: Titleist...
Cameron Young’s winning WITB: 2025 Wyndham Championship
Driver: Titleist GT2 (9 degrees, A1 SureFit setting) Buy here. Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Pro Orange 70 TX 3-wood: Titleist...
Camilo Villegas WITB 2025 (July)
Camilo Villegas WITB accurate as of the Wyndham Championship. Villegas was undecided on a 3-wood when we shot his bag. ...
WITB Time Machine: Brandt Snedeker’s winning WITB, 2018 Wyndham Championship
Brandt Snedeker fired a final-round 65 at the 2018 Wyndham Championship to outlast Webb Simpson and C.T. Pan. His 5-under...
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…