A frightening moment unfolded during the 2026 Valspar Championship at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club on Saturday, March 21, when a young girl was struck and briefly pinned under a golf cart near the 15th hole.
According to on-course reporter Smylie Kaufman, the incident occurred during the second round. “Brooks Koepka went underneath the ropes to talk to the girl and comfort her,” Kaufman reported. “Very scary moment … I am sure Brooks Koepka’s heard is still spinning a little bit.”
Tournament medical staff quickly attended to the child and, fortunately, did not report any injuries. Golf Channel later noted that the cart was “carrying fans around the course when the incident happened.”
Brooks Koepka addressed the situation after completing his round, offering reassurance about the girl’s condition. “She’s ok, thankfully, so that’s all that matters. I know she’s probably a little scared, and I just felt for her at the time.”
He added, “It’s unfortunate. It shouldn’t have happened. But as long as she’s ok — and nothing crazy happened to her — then it will be ok.”
A tournament spokesperson confirmed the incident, describing the vehicle as “slow-moving. The statement said, “After a few anxious moments, it was determined that she had not sustained any serious injuries. After her mother apologized, she left on her own with her family, and to our knowledge did not require any further medical assistance beyond that she quickly received on the scene.”
The statement further stated, “Pros Brooks Koepka and Danny Walker did a commendable job in summoning help and providing comfort and assistance. Play was delayed at the hole for about five minutes.”
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Following the brief delay, Koepka returned to action but struggled to regain momentum, carding a double bogey on the par-4 16th hole. By the end of the round, he found himself seven shots adrift of leader Sungjae Im at the Valspar Championship.
“I’m a long ways away. I felt like I needed to get to, at least, it would have been nice to stay at 6,” Koepka said. “I need a real low one tomorrow.”
Despite the earlier scare on the course, Koepka downplayed any impact it may have had on his performance, adding, “Not golf-wise, no.”
Brooks Koepka Drew Comparison To Tiger Woods During 2023 Masters Run
Brooks Koepka’s recent form has included top 15 finishes at the Cognizant Classic and The Players Championship, positioning him as a contender entering the upcoming Masters.
During the 2023 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club, Koepka led by two shots entering the final round before Jon Rahm won the tournament. It is when playing partner Gary Woodland compared Koepka’s major championship mindset to the legendary Tiger Woods.
“I think you look at the history of Brooks, he’s always lived for these moments. He’s very similar to Tiger in that standpoint, that the other tournaments never seem to bring out the best in him, where the majors did, and it was no different here this week,” Woodland said.
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Koepka responded to that Masters loss by winning the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill. That victory remains his most recent top 10 finish in a major. He missed three cuts in the four major championships in 2025, but has shown improved results on the PGA Tour in early 2026, entering the Masters with consecutive strong finishes.
