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The Valspar Championship had play suspended Saturday when a young girl was hit by a golf cart, and Brooks Koepka, back on the PGA Tour after defecting to LIV Golf, jumped into action.
Koepka was seen running to the girl to comfort her after she ended up under the golf cart, which was moving around spectators. At the time, Koepka was playing the par 3 15th hole.
NBC Sports broadcaster Dan Hicks said the girl ended up under the golf cart but was not seriously injured.
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Brooks Koepka of the United States reacts to the fifth green during the third round of the 2026 Valspar Championship on the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club on March 21, 2026 in Palm Harbor, Florida. (James Gilbert/Getty Images)
“She will be OK after medical evaluation,” walking reporter Smylie Kaufman said over the air. “Very scary moment.”
Koepka, who enters the final round on Sunday tied for 13th at 5-under, spoke about the incident after his Saturday round.
“I just felt terrible because, I think her name is Shay, so from all the reports you have, thankfully she’s OK,” Koepka said, according to Golf.com. “So that’s all that matters as long as she’s okay.”
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Koepka added that he thought she was “probably a little scared.”
“I just felt for her at the time. So it’s a shame it shouldn’t have happened, but as long as she’s okay, no, nothing crazy happened to her, it’ll be fine.”
Koepka said the moment didn’t affect him as he returned to play on the court.
Brooks Koepka of the United States watches from the sixth tee during the third round of the 2026 Valspar Championship on the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club on March 21, 2026 in Palm Harbor, Florida. (James Gilbert/Getty Images)
The five-time major championship winner made headlines when he reached an agreement with the PGA Tour to return after defecting to LIV Golf after more than four years with the Saudi-backed rival tour. At the time, Koepka cited more family time as a key factor in his decision to get out of his LIV Golf deal.
“Brooks felt over the years that the travel was so intense and so international that it kept him away from his family, and I think as time went on he longed to spend more time with his family and be closer to the United States,” Freedman, a co-founder of Liner Freedman Taitelman + Cooley LLP, told Pakinomist Digital in a recent interview.
LIV Golf has had tour stops in Australia, Singapore and other places around the world.
Freedman also praised the PGA Tour for welcoming Koepka back with half-open arms.
Brooks Koepka of the United States watches from the sixth tee during the third round of the 2026 Valspar Championship on the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club on March 21, 2026 in Palm Harbor, Florida. (James Gilbert/Getty Images)
“I think the reaction has been really positive. It’s great. The PGA has been wonderful, they welcomed him back. There are certainly restrictions that he has and he will abide by them. “But I think they’ve been incredible in the way they’ve welcomed him back,” Freedman explained. “I think he’s really excited. I think he’s excited to make amends with the players and do his best to just be a golfer among golfers, a worker among workers, and really go in there and be humble and go in with the humility and grace that Brooks walks around with.”
In his four events so far this season, Koepka has one top-10 and two top-25 finishes, making three of four cuts in a successful return to the PGA Tour.
