Golf: Double major champion Brooks Koepka explains viral photo of him in a thong

Brroks Koepka and Jena Sims were snapped wearing thongs in the Maldives. Photo / Instagram

American golfer Brooks Koepka has finally explained the social media snap of him in a purple g-string that went viral last week, saying he and girlfriend Jena Sims we're "just goofing off".

Koepka, the two-time major winner, was pictured showing off his backside while on holiday in the Maldives with Sims, fellow golfer Dustin Johnson, and Johnson's longtime partner Paulina Gretzky

"I mean, we always love. We're always goofing off and having a good time on holiday," Koepka told Golf Digest.

"I forgot who brought him, they brought one for me and one for my caddie and just goofing off, just laughing.

"I was trying to pretend like I was some Instagram model, you know, standing on my pointy toes because that's how the girls make their butts look good. I just didn't know you can't flex.

"I saw a picture, I forget of who it was, a cartoon character wearing one and it was pretty funny. Got a good laugh out of it. It's all in fun. I enjoyed it. It made everybody laugh and I'm sure it made quite a few people that saw the picture laugh, so that's all it was for."

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Koepka has had reason to smile, winning both the US Open and the PGA Championship last year but the 28-year-old was also embroiled in a scandal when it emerged he was involved in a bust-up with Johnson ahead of Team USA's disastrous Ryder Cup campaign in September.

The pair reportedly almost came to blows over Gretzky on the plane to Paris.

Brooks Koepka and girlfriend Jena Sims after he won the 2018 PGA Championship. Photo / Getty

Koepka is headlining the Saudi Arabia International this weekend, with opinion divided on whether players should boycott the event after the state-led killing and dismembering of journalist Jamal Khashoggi three months ago.

While stars like Tiger Woods and Paul Casey have pulled out of the tournament, four of the world's top five golfers - as well as Kiwi Ryan Fox - will line up.