ATLANTA – It was fun. It was rewarding. And yes … “Getting naked’s a bit weird, the first time you actually pull that robe off in front of 30, 40 people,â€� said Brooks Koepka, the world’s top-ranked golfer and the latest one to appear in ESPN’s Body Issue. On his Instagram account Wednesday, Koepka posted a photo revealing the fact he’ll be in the magazine’s annual feature of athletes without uniforms – or any other kind of clothing for that matter. (The issue is available in early September.) On Thursday, after shooting a 3-under 67 that moved him into a three-way tie for the lead at the TOUR Championship – he’s now 10 under in the new Starting Strokes format, sharing the score with Xander Schauffele (64) and Justin Thomas (70) – Koepka revealed his thoughts. RELATED: Tee times | Big names tied atop leaderboard | How new format works “It was something I enjoyed,â€� he said. “I was looking forward to it for months. It’s something I definitely don’t regret doing. It’s been enjoyable to see the pictures over the last couple of months and see, I guess, all the hard work I put into it and see the results.â€� Of course, anybody who follows Koepka or his girlfriend Jena Sims on social media already has received an eyeful, with Koepka wearing a thong in a few photos. “I’ve basically given everybody a preview in a thong,â€� he said, “so … just a little strip of clothing left I had to pull off.â€� The photo shoot took place this spring, after some intense two-a-day training in the gym along with a strict, calorie-counting diet. Koepka weighed 187 pounds for the shoot; he’s now about 210 pounds. “I’ve got a great dad bod right now,â€� he said. Koepka becomes the fourth male golfer to appear in the Body Issue, which made its debut in 2009. Camilo Villegas appeared in 2010, Gary Player in 2013 and Greg Norman last year. In addition, several female golfers also have appeared. Some of Koepka’s photos were shot outdoors at the Floridian National Golf Club. Koepka said there were people on the course. Koepka’s coach Claude Harmon also was giving a lesson at the time to a junior player. “I’ll never forget this one shot,â€� Koepka said. “They were trying to get this shot, and I’m up on the tee box. They had all their camera stuff set up in front of me, like face-on, but around the corner I see Claude teaching this maybe 12-year-old kid, and his mom is just over here. I’m like, this is awkward. And Claude’s peaking around the corner laughing. … “I’m pretty sure everybody that was at the golf course saw me that day.â€� And now everybody else is about to see him – especially his fellow PGA TOUR pros, including Rickie Fowler, who was once asked to be in the Body Issue but declined the offer. “I figured there would be some sort of hazing in the locker room afterwards,â€� he said. So has he given Koepka any grief? “I haven’t, no,â€� Fowler replied. “But he’s bigger than me.â€� Rory McIlroy was asked in 2015 to pose. He also declined. “It’s just a little strange,â€� he said. “… You have to have a bit of confidence to get up there and do it in the first place, so good on him.â€� Koepka said he hasn’t received any jabs from his fellow pros. Nor, he added, should they be shocked by anything they see in the photos. “I’ve walked around naked in the locker room before,â€� Koepka said. One pro, however, did manage to share a bit of the spotlight. A photo of a shirtless Phil Mickelson in the ocean was posted on his sister Tina’s Twitter account , showing off the weight loss – and defined abs – for the 49-year-old World Golf Hall of Famer. “Was there a coincidence that Phil released his pictures at the same time,â€� cracked fellow pro Paul Casey, who then added, “Has he let that breath out? … Is he a breather?â€� Koepka took it all in stride. “Laid one on me again,â€� Koepka said of the Mickelson photo. “Leave it to Phil. He’s good at it. He knows what he’s doing. He looked good, though.â€�
Brooks Koepka shares the lead … and his thoughts about getting naked
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2nd Round Score – Abraham Ancer | |
Type: 2nd Round Score – Status: OPEN | |
Over 68.5 | +125 |
Under 68.5 | -165 |
2nd Round Score – Brooks Koepka | |
Type: 2nd Round Score – Status: OPEN | |
Over 67.5 | -115 |
Under 67.5 | -115 |
2nd Round Score – Bryson DeChambeau | |
Type: 2nd Round Score – Status: OPEN | |
Over 66.5 | -135 |
Under 66.5 | +105 |
2nd Round Score – Cameron Smith | |
Type: 2nd Round Score – Status: OPEN | |
Over 66.5 | -145 |
Under 66.5 | +110 |
2nd Round Score – Carlos Ortiz | |
Type: 2nd Round Score – Status: OPEN | |
Over 67.5 | +110 |
Under 67.5 | -145 |
2nd Round Score – Dean Burmester | |
Type: 2nd Round Score – Status: OPEN | |
Over 66.5 | -120 |
Under 66.5 | -110 |
2nd Round Score – Jinichiro Kozuma | |
Type: 2nd Round Score – Status: OPEN | |
Over 68.5 | -115 |
Under 68.5 | -115 |
2nd Round Score – Joaquin Niemann | |
Type: 2nd Round Score – Status: OPEN | |
Over 66.5 | -135 |
Under 66.5 | +105 |
2nd Round Score – Jon Rahm | |
Type: 2nd Round Score – Status: OPEN | |
Over 66.5 | +105 |
Under 66.5 | -135 |
2nd Round Score – Mito Pereira | |
Type: 2nd Round Score – Status: OPEN | |
Over 67.5 | -130 |
Under 67.5 | +100 |
2nd Round Score – Patrick Reed | |
Type: 2nd Round Score – Status: OPEN | |
Over 67.5 | +120 |
Under 67.5 | -155 |
2nd Round Score – Talor Gooch | |
Type: 2nd Round Score – Status: OPEN | |
Over 66.5 | -135 |
Under 66.5 | +105 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – B. DeChambeau / C. Tringale / T. Gooch | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Bryson DeChambeau | +130 |
Talor Gooch | +150 |
Cameron Tringale | +280 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – C. Ortiz / D. Lee / J. Kozuma | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Carlos Ortiz | -130 |
Danny Lee | +275 |
Jinichiro Kozuma | +275 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – M. Leishman / P. Reed / D. Burmester | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Dean Burmester | +150 |
Patrick Reed | +175 |
Marc Leishman | +200 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – J. Rahm / J. Niemann / P. Casey | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Jon Rahm | +140 |
Joaquin Niemann | +150 |
Paul Casey | +260 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – A. Ogletree / P. Uihlein / M. Pereira | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Peter Uihlein | +140 |
Mito Pereira | +160 |
Andy Ogletree | +240 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – B. Steele / M. Jones / A. Lahiri | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Anirban Lahiri | +145 |
Brendan Steele | +190 |
Matt Jones | +190 |
Scottie Scheffler Specials | |
Type: Scottie Scheffler Specials – Status: OPEN | |
Win Any Remaining Signature Event | -200 |
PGA Championship (Top 10 Finish) & US Open (Top 10 Finish) | +115 |
PGA Championship (Top 10 Finish) & The Open (Top 10 Finish) | +125 |
US Open (Top 10 Finish) & The Open (Top 10 Finish) | +135 |
All Remaining Signature Events – Top 10 Finish | +200 |
PGA Championship (Top 5 Finish) & The Open (Top 5 Finish) | +200 |
US Open (Top 5 Finish) & The Open (Top 5 Finish) | +210 |
PGA Championship (Top 10 Finish) & US Open (Top 10 Finish) & The Open (Top 10 Finish) | +240 |
PGA Championship (Top 5 Finish) & US Open (Top 5 Finish) | +280 |
Win 2 Remaining Signature Events | +450 |
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PGA Championship 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +350 |
Jon Rahm | +1200 |
Rory McIlroy | +1200 |
Ludvig Aberg | +1600 |
Brooks Koepka | +2000 |
Xander Schauffele | +2000 |
Bryson DeChambeau | +2500 |
Collin Morikawa | +2500 |
Max Homa | +2500 |
Patrick Cantlay | +2500 |
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Requests | |
Type: Requests – Status: OPEN | |
Miles Russell – Win a Major before 30th birthday | +10000 |
Scottie Scheffler & Nelly Korda – Win All Remaining 2024 Majors | +250000 |
US Open 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +350 |
Jon Rahm | +1200 |
Rory McIlroy | +1200 |
Ludvig Aberg | +1600 |
Collin Morikawa | +2000 |
Viktor Hovland | +2000 |
Brooks Koepka | +2500 |
Cameron Smith | +2500 |
Patrick Cantlay | +2500 |
Xander Schauffele | +2500 |
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The Open Championship 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +500 |
Jon Rahm | +1000 |
Rory McIlroy | +1000 |
Viktor Hovland | +1100 |
Brooks Koepka | +2000 |
Cameron Smith | +2000 |
Cameron Young | +2000 |
Collin Morikawa | +2000 |
Ludvig Aberg | +2000 |
Jordan Spieth | +2500 |
Click here for more… | |
Requests | |
Type: Requests – Status: OPEN | |
The Open Championship – Alex Noren – Top 20 Finish | +200 |
Solheim Cup 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
USA | -140 |
Europe | +135 |
Tie | +1200 |
Ryder Cup 2025 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
USA | -135 |
Europe | +135 |
Tie | +1000 |