Brooks Koepka not only got his start by touring in Europe, he also found his caddy there. Ricky Elliott of Northern Ireland was by Koepka’s side Sunday when during the final round of the 2017 U.S. Open, he hit a 16-under-par 67, emerging as champion and exploding on the national golf scene.

 

“He’s been Brooks’s caddy since he played in his first major tournament - The Open Championship at Muirfield – and he’s going to be with him for a long, long time,” said Bob Koepka, Bridgeport native, Bridgeport High School alumnus and dad of Brooks Koepka.

 

The first US tournament during which Koepka and Elliott teamed up was the 2013 PGA Championship played at the East Course of Oak Hill Country Club in Pittsford, New York.

 

“And I believe the rest is history,” Bob Koepka said. “They both knew right away they wanted to work with each other. They’ve become best friends, traveling and vacationing together.”

 

It was as if their paths had crossed before and as the years went by, they discovered that they likely had – when Brooks was just a young teenager.

 

“When we lived at a golf course at Sherbrooke Golf and Country Club (in Lake Worth, Fla.), a gentleman who owned a house near us, Mel Harbaugh, let the University of Toledo Mud Hens Golf Team come down over spring break and play at the course,” Bob Koepka said. “We had run across them on the range practicing when they were there – and they stayed right across the street. Brooks used to walk through that yard and cut across the second hole to the driving range.”

 

The connection was ultimately made when Brooks mentioned Sherbrooke one day and Elliott said it sounded familiar. When the Koepkas questioned him about the Mud Hens and their spring break at the Harbaugh house, Elliott said, “That was us.”

 

Elliott first caddied for Maarten Lafeber when he played the European Tour – for three weeks - then for British Open champion Ben Curtis – for three seasons – before teaming up with Koepka, who he is quoted to say is “the real deal.”

 

The pro-turned-caddy grew up with Graeme McDowell who seven years ago won the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, the first European champion for four decades.

 

Elliott and Koepka’s journey continues full circle in 2019 when the British Open – the game’s oldest major championship - will be played in Elliott’s old stomping grounds – at Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Ireland.

 

Editor's Note: Pictured above/cover are Brooks Koepka and caddy, Ricky Elliott. Also pictured (left to right) are Jake Amos (Associate Head Men's Coach at University of South Carolina), Bob Koepka, Brooks Koepka, Chase Koepka, Sherry Koepka and Ricky Elliott. Photo courtesy of  Bob Koepka.