Chase Koepka endured a difficult two seasons that included relegation from LIV Golf and a 13-month injury layoff, but the American is now finally enjoying his golf again
The 2024 season was a challenging one for Chase Koepka, but the Florida-born golfer is finally back out competing and enjoying his golf.
Koepka seemed to have banked the golden ticket when he was offered a spot on the LIV Golf setup for its inaugural campaign in 2022. He then returned in 2023, playing alongside his five-time major-winning brother Brooks, as the Koepka brothers teamed up on Smash GC.
While his brother was out winning golf tournaments – including his fifth major at the PGA Championship that summer – Things proved much more difficult for Chase. Having only broken into the top 40 four times throughout the 2023 season, the 31-year-old was relegated from the Saudi-backed circuit, leaving him at a career crossroads.
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Unfortunately for the former PGA Tour man, where there was still more trouble to come. Chase had the chance to compete on the Asian Tour’s International Series due to the circuit’s strong relationship with LIV. This opportunity was quickly taken away from him though after he suffered an injury to his shoulder and neck in the offseason.
This left him unable to even hold a golf club, let alone compete, in what was the beginning of the hardest period of his career. After more than a year away, he was finally able to return to competitive golf and make use of his spot on the Asian Tour.
There was unsurprisingly plenty of rust in his game, as he failed to make the cut at the Smart Infinity Philippine Open in January, in his first start back. Despite failing to make the weekend though, just being back in competition was an achievement in itself for the ex-Smash member.
A relegation and 13-month layoff later, Chase is now finally back playing consistent tour golf. He made his first cut in nearly two years at the International Series event in India a week after his long-awaited return, where he eventually finished in a tie for eighth in what was an impressive showing.
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He is back in action this week too, with the lesser-known Koepka once again teeing it up on the International Series, this time in Macau alongside the likes of Sergio Garcia and Patrick Reed. A look back on his time away on the back of his return, Chase told Mirror Sport: “For most of last year, I wasn’t even thinking about playing golf because of my injury, I was just trying to feel better,
“I’m definitely enjoying playing again, and my game is in a much better place than it was in 2023. I just have to keep grinding.” The road to recovery proved tough for Chase, who struggled to get a diagnosis for the issue. Reflecting, he went on: “The problem was that I wasn’t getting many answers, nobody could figure out what was wrong.
“The nerve damage I had was a big issue. My torn labrum in my shoulder hurt, but that was something we could manage with rehab. It was all the other complications that came with it that we didn’t fully understand. Luckily, I was able to see some great doctors who helped figure things out.
“It just took time, I had to be patient. Last year was tough. I’ve played golf my whole life, and I don’t think I’ve ever taken 13 months off before. It was a lot of sitting around at home, wishing I was out here. But I knew I wouldn’t be ready until this year.”
The 31-year-old’s opportunity on the International Series is a crucial one, as topping the Order of Merit will see him make a return to the LIV setup for 2024, something he has his sights on. Playing well in these International Series events is important because there’s a big opportunity at the end of the year,” he said. “I just need to keep giving myself chances on the back nine on Sundays. That’s all you can ask for. If I want to get that top spot, I need to do that consistently.”
