Masters

Masters 2023: Brooks Koepka says it was so slow on Sunday that Jon Rahm went to the bathroom 7 (!!) times and they were still waiting

By Christopher Powers

April 09, 2023

Christian Petersen

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Say what you want about LIV, but it was nice to have those guys back in the fold this week at the Masters. Not only for their play, but for the content they provide.

Specifically, Brooks Koepka, who not only returned to form on the golf course this week, but he returned to form off of it. His press conferences were must-see TV, Koepka saying whatever what was on his mind like it was old times.

Following a final-round 75, which saw him fall into a tie for second place, Koepka had a little something to say about the pace of play in the final round. He and winner Jon Rahm teed off at 2:33 p.m., and it took them nearly five hours to complete their round. For two guys who like to march up and down the fairways and play fast, that type of slog can be extremely frustrating.

In the group directly ahead of them was Patrick Cantlay (and Viktor Hovland). In the group ahead of that was Hideki Matsuyama (and Russell Henley). In the group ahead of that was amateur Sam Bennett (and Collin Morikawa). You'll notice that the names not in parentheses are the ones who are notoriously ... deliberate, which made for a marathon Sunday afternoon on what was already a marathon week.

Koepka did not suggest that this was the reason for his poor play, but he certainly wasn't thrilled about it afterward.

"The group in front of us was brutally slow," Koepka said. "Jon went to the bathroom like seven times during the round, and we were still waiting."

That's a lot of bathroom breaks, but you'll do whatever you can to pass the time and keep your mind occupied when it's that slow. Koepka and Rahm, fortunately, were able to finish before dark, just before 7:15 p.m. ET., avoiding a dreaded Monday finish.