ケプカが全米プロの練習に遅刻、理由は車のキー閉じ込め

【タルサＡＦＰ＝時事】男子ゴルフでメジャー４勝を挙げているブルックス・ケプカ（米国）が、米国ツアーの今季メジャー第２戦、第１０４回全米プロゴルフ選手権を前にした練習ラウンドに遅れた理由について、キーとクラブを車の中に閉じ込めてしまったせいだと明かした。（写真は男子ゴルフのブルックス・ケプカ 資料写真）
　予選落ちに終わった４月のマスターズ以降、大会に出場していないケプカは、自身のＳＮＳに投稿した動画メッセージでハプニングについて嘆き、原因をパッティングコーチに押しつけようとした。
　ケプカは「コーチが車のロックを外して、エンジンをかけるのを見ていたんだ。その後、彼がバッグをつかんでトランクに入れ、トランクを閉めた。僕は帽子を取りに行き、すぐに出た。そうしたら車はロックされていた」と明かし、「キーを車内に閉じ込めた経緯は分からない。仰天したよ。車というのはそういうものじゃないと思っていたが、どうやらそういうものだったらしい。それが１時間遅れた理由だ」と話した。
　最終的にスペアキーを使って問題は解決したが、他にも先日は、自宅で車がガス欠になったこともあるという。ケプカは「僕だけだよ、まったく」と話し、「車のトラブルがテーマになっているかのようだ。ガス欠に、今度はこれ。大会中じゃなくてよかった」と続けた。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2022/05/18-15:13）

Four-time major winner Brooks Koepka arrived late at Southern Hills for his Tuesday practice round ahead of the PGA Championship after locking his keys and clubs in his running car.
The 32-year-old American, who hasn't played since missing the cut at last month's Masters, lamented his fate in a video social media posting, trying to push the blame to putting coach Jeff Pierce.
I watched him unlock the car, start the car, then he grabbed the bag, put it in the trunk, shut the trunk, and I went in and grabbed a hat, walked right out, and then the car was locked, Koepka said.
I don't know how the keys locked inside the car. It boggles me. I didn't think a car was supposed to do that, but apparently it does. That's why I'm an hour late.'
A spare key eventually solved the problem but it was one of those moments for Koepka, who recently ran out of gas in his own car at home.
Only me, man, Koepka said. It's like a theme of car troubles. Run out of gas and then this. I'm just glad it didn't happen on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.
That's when Koepka will chase his first major title since the 2019 PGA and first victory since last year's Phoenix Open.
It's going to be tough, Koepka said. If you miss these fairways, you can't control your ball and it seems the best place to miss is kind of short around these greens.
If you're chipping out of the rough it could be quite difficult. So it'll be a good test.
Koepka hopes to keep his cool this week after frustration over poor putting seeped into the rest of his game at the Masters, leading to 75s and an early exit.
That was really what let me down at Augusta and got me frustrated, Koepka said. Getting that squared away and should be fine.
Car issues didn't irk him and neither have wedding preparations after announcing his engagement last month to actress Jena Sims.
I've actually had a great time. It has been quite fun, Koepka said. Jena is handling most of it. I just kind of say yes or no every once in a while but she has done a good job.
Koepka isn't worried about 40-1 odds on his winning this week not being better.
More people that bet, the lower my odds are going to be. Obviously not that many people are betting, which is fine, Koepka said. It doesn't matter to me. I like the golf course. It's a tough test. That's usually where I play well. I'll be ready.