NEWTOWN SQUARE, PA — For Brooks Koepka, life is returning to some semblance of normalcy … in his golf game and, most importantly, in his life.
And you know how you can tell: Koepka was frustrated after shooting a 1-under 69 in the first round of the PGA Championship. That’s a score that has him squarely in contention with many of his peers having a difficult time solving Aronimink Golf Club, but he still was able to speak about how the joy is returning to his life.
Koepka now can re-focus on golf. Which means he can get angry when he’s not playing up to his standards but understand that’s not the most important thing in his life.
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Koepka and his family have been through a lot in the last year. Yes, the drama of leaving LIV golf has faded. But that is secondary.
Time has started to heal the heartbreak he suffered in his personal life.
Brooks and his wife, Jena, experienced the devastation of losing their unborn child. On Oct. 6, Jena shared on social media that the couple’s second child’s heart stopped beating at 16 weeks. “We are devastated, but remain hopeful to give Crew a sibling one day,” she wrote, referring to their one child.
For Brooks, the road to recovery has not been easy.
“We had a lot of family issues go on last year. It was noted, and that took a toll on me,” Koepka said following his opening round. “It definitely took a toll on Jena. That was kind of tough to deal with.
“It’s easier to come out to work when everything at home lines up. Everything’s a lot better. Last year was just difficult personally with what was going on off the golf course, nothing to do on it. It was just off.”
Brooks Koepka getting a fresh start on golf course
Koepka is calling it a fresh start. And for Koepka, who built his reputation during a two-year period when he was the most dominant — and to some, intimidating — golfer on the planet, that means getting back to the standard that allowed him to win five major championships.
Which is why he was far from satisfied with a score that had him just two behind the leaders after the first wave.
Koepka bogeyed No. 10, his first hole, got it back two holes later and then birdied No. 14. He ended the round with 13 consecutive pars.
Not good enough. And the reason is what has ailed him most of the year …
His putter.
“Struck it beautifully,” he said. “I thought I drove it okay. The iron play has been really good, striking it exactly how I want to, flighting it the way I want to.
“Putter is absolutely horrendous.”
At one point during the first round, Koepka was second in the field in strokes gained: tee to green; and strokes gained: approach the green.
At that same point, he was 144th in strokes gained: putting.
“Every round just seems to be the worst I can shoot,” he said. “Ball striking is absolutely phenomenal. That’s been the story of the year. Hopefully, we can figure out a way to turn this around.”
The struggles forced Koepka to switch putters early in the year, after ranking last in putting at the Farmers Insurance Open, his first event back on the PGA Tour. He’s had some solid weeks — top 20s in the Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches, Players, Valspar and Masters.
But he also missed three cuts this year.
Brooks Koepka post-LIV had to play opposite field event
And then there was the event leading up to the PGA Championship, the Myrtle Beach Classic. Koepka entered the opposite field event because he has not qualified for the signature events because of the penalties he was assessed upon returning to the PGA Tour after four years on LIV.
After carding a 64 in the third round at Myrtle Beach — he finished T11 — Koepka started talking about how he once again has joy in his game.
“I re-found my happiness, my love for the game,” he said. “All the pieces are connected. It’s just now, I’ve got to go out and go play.”
Now, time will tell if Koepka rediscovers his putting, and whatever else he needs to once again be among the elite in his sport.
But if that takes time, or even never happens, that’s OK. Because he is in a much better place now where it matters most.
“It’s exciting,” he said. “When all that kind of lines up, it makes it enjoyable to be out here.”
Tom D’Angelo is a senior sports columnist and reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at tdangelo@pbpost.com.
PGA Championship
May 14-17
Aronimink Golf Club, Newtown Square, Pa.
TV: ESPN, CBS
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: The joy has returned for Brooks Koepka, just not in his putting
Reporting by Tom D’Angelo, Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
