Brooks Koepka, who is in a three-way tie for the lead after Thursday’s first round at the Masters, was embroiled in a rules controversy that could have cost him a two-shot penalty.
Video showed Koepka’s caddie, Ricky Elliott mouthing the word “five” after his player hit a 5-iron onto the par-5, 15th green at Augusta National. It appeared to be mouthed in the direction of Brennan Little, Gary Woodland’s caddie.
If that were the case, it would be a rules breach and a two-shot penalty, as sharing information on clubs on the course is forbidden.
The Masters Tournament Committee looked into the matter and determined no rule was broken.
“Following the completion of Brooks Koepka’s round, the Committee questioned his caddie and others in the group about a possible incident on No. 15,” the committee said in a statement. “All involved were adamant that no advice was given or requested. Consequently, the Committee determined that there was no breach of the Rules.”
Golf Channel analysts Paul McGinley and Brandel Chamblee, who both previously played on the PGA Tour, said their should have been a penalty.
“It’s very obvious,” McGinley said on Golf Channel. “Anybody looking at those pictures, it’s very obvious what happens.
“It’s staggering that they denied it because the video evidence is there.”
McGinley claimed that it’s “common practice” for players and caddies to discreetly share information on club selection on the course.
Chamblee, who disagreed with McGinley that players regularly share intel on club selections, also said he thought a penalty should have been called.
“It looked to me that Ricky Elliot [Koepka’s caddie] was clearly looking at [Woodland’s caddie] when he said ‘five’. It was very obvious that he said ‘five.’ ”
Koepka, who is tied for the lead with Jon Rahm and Viktor Hovland at 7-under, denied breaking any rule.
“Yeah, we looked at it when we got back in. [Woodland] and Butchie [his caddie] had no idea what we were hitting,” he told reporters after the round.
“They didn’t even know because — I know that fact because GW asked me what we hit walking off, when we were walking down. So that’s all I can give you.”