Brooks Koepka faces awkward LIV Golf reunion with star he got kicked out of bar

Brooks Koepka and Rick Shiels are set to link up in the LIV Golf League, but their first meeting since a cringeworthy run-in at a bar may not be one to look forward to

LIV Golf’s Brooks Koepka is poised for an uncomfortable encounter with YouTube golf personality Rick Shiels, who he once had ejected from a bar. The American golfer will be joined in the Saudi breakaway league alongside Shiels, who has signed to boost its profile and generate content.

The Brit confirmed his partnership with the league on Friday, even revealing some plans for 2025. With nearly three million subscribers on his YouTube channel, Shiels plans to undertake bold challenges like scoring under 75 at all LIV Golf venues and completing 10-shot challenges with some of the league’s top players.

One of his initial videos will feature him playing alongside Jon Rahm and Koepka, setting the stage for a potentially awkward conversation about a past incident involving the two.

In 2022, while working at the Open Championship, Shiels ended up in a bar’s VIP area where Koepka was present after a disappointing round at St Andrews.

After introducing himself to Koepka, Shiels and his friend were reportedly asked to leave the bar at the golfer’s request.

I see Brooksy, here’s there, I think this is cool. I might introduce myself,” Shiels recounted on his podcast ‘The Rick Shiels Golf Show’.

“Dream scenario… he will come up to me and give me a big hug and say, ‘Rick, love your videos, pal, that was the dream, let’s have some champagne, let’s have some Sambuca.’

He missed the cut. This was Saturday. I’m like, ‘here we go, Brooksy’. So I turn to him and he looks at me right in the eye and he taps the security guard next to him.

The bouncer turns back to me, [Koepka] points at me, points at my mate Neil, and then indicates to the bouncer to remove us from the VIP section.”