Brooks Koepka’s Wife visits Children’s Hospital of Georgia, a year after spending 20 days in NICU with new-born son

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – It’s the beginning of “a tradition unlike any other”–the 88th Masters tournament.

Many Masters participants are returning to Augusta, including LIV Golf League Player Brooks Koepka.

Koepka finished tied for second at last year’s tournament, 4 shots behind current champion Jon Rahm.

As he returns to Augusta National Golf Club, we caught up with his wife, Jena, who recalls great memories from the city.

“Brooks and I actually met for the very first time at the Masters here, so it’s really special to just bring our son here, and it’s really a full circle moment,” said Koepka.

While Brooks is a professional golfer, Jena is an actress and Sports Illustrated swimsuit model, with plenty of followers on social media.

After getting married in 2022, they gave birth to their now 8-month-old son Crew a little less a year ago.

But Jena says she and Brooks got some information from doctors around 5 months into her pregnancy.

“My doctor told me that Crew was measuring really small,” said Koepka. “There’s something called Fetal Growth Restriction, which means he wasn’t growing as quickly as they would like him to grow.”

Then one day–out of the blue–Jena’s water broke, prompting an immediate trip to the hospital.

“Brooks and I were just having a normal conversation, and he (Crew) was just ready to come,” said Koepka. “So when he did that, we rushed over to Jupiter Med, which is where he was born, and they were like–we have to go now. I had an emergency C-section, and thank God he spent 20 days in the NICU, and he’s healthy and perfect now.”

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Jena paid a visit to the Children’s Hospital of Georgia Monday afternoon, getting the chance to tour the Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) on site.

“I’m interested in touring a level four NICU, because when Crew was born it was only a level 2,” said Koepka. “So I’m interested in that, seeing the differences, and giving back to them.”

One of the big reasons why she visited was to spread awareness about a company known as the Little Words Project.

Koepka says it’s a company that spreads words through kindness, and they do so using bracelets with special messages on them.

“Little Words as a company–it’s basically little words with big meaning. So, it’s inspirational phrases: there’s faith, there’s go for it, there’s you got this, the list goes on. They have a wall full of all these different inspirational phrases,” said Koepka.

Throughout the tournament this week, the company will sell bracelets with the phrase “On In 2”.

Golf fans know that this phrase means getting the ball from the tee to the green in 2 shots.

But Jena says for her, it means a lot more.

“For me, On in 2 just means going for it–going for your biggest dreams. I have gone for it in so many different ways in my life, and I want to inspire women and pretty much everybody to do the same,” said Koepka.

A portion of the proceeds will go specifically to the NICU at the Children’s Hospital of Georgia, and Koepka says it’s a cause she’s more than happy to support.

“One of my best friends is actually a NICU nurse in Charlotte, and I had no idea what she even did. But after I had Crew, I was like oh my gosh, now I know what you do for a living. I just want to raise as much money as possible, because it really is lifesaving treatment for these newborn infants,” said Koepka.

Koepka will be promoting this on her social media platforms, as the “On in 2” bracelets will be available for purchase this Thursday, April 11th.

Jena says it will only be available for three days, and you can purchase a bracelet on the Little Words Project website.

You can find that link here.

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