Mark Schlabach
Multiple Authors
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — Five-time main champion Brooks Koepka will make his fourth PGA Tour begin of the season in the Players this week, however it is going to be the primary time he’ll compete in opposition to practically all the circuit’s prime stars.
Relegated to taking part in in non-signature occasions as a part of the PGA Tour’s Returning Member Program, the previous LIV Golf League captain has been compelled to observe limited-field tournaments like final week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational.
“I mean, you would like to be there last week, but I understand those are the consequences of my decisions,” Koepka mentioned Tuesday at TPC Sawgrass. “I’m a big boy, I understand that. So, I got to sit at home and watch, and the answer to everything is play good golf and everything will take care of itself.”
Since returning to the PGA Tour on Jan. 12, Koepka’s outcomes have been a combined bag. He tied for 56th at 4 beneath in his first match in the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines outdoors San Diego on Jan. 29, then missed the lower the subsequent week after carding a 76-69 in the WM Phoenix Open.
Koepka, 35, mentioned he felt like he made a breakthrough, albeit in opposition to a weaker subject, in the Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches on March 1. He posted a 6-under 65 in the ultimate spherical, after switching from a blade putter to a Spider mannequin that week.
“I think the first week was just trying to get that out of the way,” Koepka mentioned. “Then the second week, I felt like it was very disappointing. Made a few changes [with a] new putter, just working on a few different mechanical things in the putting. [I] felt like it started to click, I guess.”
While being sidelined from the API, Koepka performed in the Seminole Pro-Member at Seminole Golf Club in Juno Beach, Florida. He went to Orlando, Florida, later in the week to proceed engaged on placing with his caddie, Ricky Elliott.
“I think with that change there’s been a lot of mechanical changes as well,” Koepka mentioned of the putter swap. “I would say it’s definitely that the mechanical issues are the tougher parts of it. But I mean, if you look at it, the face rotation on the Spider is a little less than it was with the blade. Just looking for a little bit more consistency.”
Koepka mentioned he appreciates the reception from followers and different PGA Tour gamers since his return.
“I didn’t know what to expect, but the fans have been great,” he mentioned. “I’m still getting ‘welcome back’ as of yesterday, so I mean, it’s a good feeling. It feels good to be back. I’m enjoying it. It’s a lot of fun, and the players have been great, too.”
Even just a few golfers who benefited after he left for the LIV Golf League have thanked them for opening spots in match fields.
“I think every week somebody’s thanked me, which has been kind of weird,” Koepka mentioned.
Koepka will attempt to keep that momentum at the Players, the place he has by no means had a top-10 end in six begins. He missed the lower in his most up-to-date begin on the Stadium Course, carding 72-81 in 2022.
One factor Koepka most likely did not miss was the enduring seventeenth inexperienced at TPC Sawgrass.
That yr, after dangerous climate delayed the second spherical, Koepka needed to play the par-3 seventeenth with a 35 mph wind blowing in his face when play resumed Saturday. His first try with an 8-iron was woefully in need of the island inexperienced and went into the water. He carded a triple-bogey 6, after making a double-bogey 5 in the primary spherical.
“That 17th hole has gotten me over the years,” Koepka mentioned. “I’ve played good rounds here; that’s just kind of the one bugaboo that always gets me.”
In 20 profession rounds on the Stadium Course, Koepka is 20 over par on the seventeenth. He has recorded two bogeys, three doubles, two triples and two quadruple-bogey 7s. He hit the island inexperienced solely 55% of the time and hit 10 balls in the water.
“I don’t think about it. It doesn’t haunt me,” Koepka mentioned. “I mean, my friends, they give me a bunch of crap about it. My friends bust my chops about it pretty good. So, I mean, it’s all fun and games. Then I just got to go out and go do it.”
Koepka did discover the seventeenth inexperienced throughout a follow spherical Monday.
“I was pretty pumped about that,” he mentioned.
