{"id":228122,"date":"2019-07-16T17:06:49","date_gmt":"2019-07-16T17:06:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/golftoday.co.uk\/open-championship-koepka-lets-caddie-steal-spotlight-at-royal-portrush\/"},"modified":"2022-10-06T12:04:39","modified_gmt":"2022-10-06T12:04:39","slug":"open-championship-koepka-lets-caddie-steal-spotlight-at-royal-portrush","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/golftoday.co.uk\/open-championship-koepka-lets-caddie-steal-spotlight-at-royal-portrush\/","title":{"rendered":"Koepka happy for caddie to steal spotlight at Royal Portrush"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Koepka
Brooks Koepka\u2019s caddie Ricky Elliott will have plenty of home support this week (Richard Sellers\/PA).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Brooks Koepka may be a four-time major winner and world number one, but for the only time in his career he is playing second-fiddle to his caddie this week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

Ricky Elliott hails from Portrush and Koepka hopes his local knowledge of the course will give him an advantage on a links which has not hosted the Open since 1951.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Such is Elliott\u2019s perceived inside track that even 15-time major winner Tiger Woods, a man known for being solitary and single-minded in his preparations, tried to piggyback on his wisdom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Koepka
American Brooks Koepka goes into the Open as world number one (David Davies\/PA).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Woods said \u201cI texted Brooksy and I said, \u2018mind if I tag along and play a practice round? I\u2019ve heard nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Koepka is wise to keep Elliott\u2019s counsel to himself, even if he is the most in-form golfer on the planet right now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

But Elliott\u2019s presence on the fairways this week means Koepka is walking slightly in his shadow, with the American himself even talking about how great it would be for the 41-year-old bagman to win in his home town.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI probably hear more, \u2018Ricky, hey, Ricky, what\u2019s going on?\u2019 than anything,\u201d said the current USPGA champion, who has been with Elliott for six years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure he\u2019ll have quite a bit of friends and family out. It will be a special week for him, for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Koepka
Brooks Koepka\u2019s caddie Ricky Elliott will have plenty of home support this week (Richard Sellers\/PA).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Asked if his caddie was enjoying the attention, Koepka added: \u201cHe has to be. He has to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think when he grew up that he ever thought there would be an Open Championship here and to top it off, I don\u2019t think he ever thought he\u2019d be a part of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd to be caddying and to be able to win one here would be \u2013 he\u2019d be a legend, wouldn\u2019t he? He already is. But it would be cool to see him win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI wouldn\u2019t want anybody else on my bag. He\u2019s been tremendous. He\u2019s part of the reason why I\u2019ve had the success I\u2019ve had.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI love the guy to death and am looking forward to many years to come, he\u2019s not going to leave me for a long time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Elliott, and Koepka, are probably best placed to succeed considering the golfer\u2019s form in majors this year, with two runners-up spots to add to his PGA win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the last 11 majors he has four wins and four other top-six finishes, but outside of golf\u2019s premier events this year he has been less impressive with just three top-10s in 11 regular strokeplay events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You may practice your golf more than @BKoepka<\/a> 😲#TheOpen<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/asvgHSrRkB<\/a><\/p>— The Open (@TheOpen) 16 July 2019<\/a><\/blockquote>\n