Koepka: Media is throwing 'black cloud' on U.S. Open

Brooks Koepka said he doesn't understand why so much of the focus at this week's U.S. Open is on the Saudi-backed LIV Golf league that's pulling players away from the PGA TOUR.

"I'm here at the U.S. Open. I'm ready to play U.S. Open, and I think it kind of sucks, too," Koepka said Tuesday at his press conference, according to CBS Sports' Patrick McDonald. "You are all throwing this black cloud over the U.S. Open."

When asked if there was a specific figure that would convince him to join the new series, Koepka said, "I haven't given it that much thought."

He added, "I legitimately don't get it. I'm tired of the conversations. I'm tired of all this stuff. ... We're here to play and you are talking about an event that happened last week."

One incentive players have cited for joining LIV Golf is the small event list. There are only eight tournaments on the LIV Golf schedule. In contrast, Patrick Cantlay played in 24 TOUR events last season en route to capturing the FedEx Cup.

Bryson DeChambeau is the most recent golfer to list the eight-event schedule among the reasons he joined the rival series.

Koepka, however, said scheduling hasn't been an issue for him.

"I can come out here and play as little weeks as I want," he said. "I choose my own schedule regardless what tour I play. ... I've played, what, Match Play, Augusta, PGA, and this one, so I can play as little as I want."

Koepka's brother, Chase Koepka, participated in last week's LIV event.

Brooks, a two-time U.S. Open champion, will tee off Thursday at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts, alongside Cameron Smith and Scottie Scheffler at 1:25 p.m. ET.