LIV Golf: Brooks Koepka talks poor play, ‘wasted time’ at Augusta

In two weeks’ time, Brooks Koepka will arrive at Valhalla Golf Membership in Louisville, Kentucky, because the defending champion of the PGA Championship.

He decimated Oak Hill over the ultimate 54 holes a yr in the past, simply waltzing his manner across the Western New York property. Like a person on a mission, Koepka avenged his 2023 collapse at Augusta Nationwide along with his fifth main victory and third Wanamaker Trophy.

Quick-forward to 2024, and Koepka has not performed as much as that customary. He started the yr with a Seventh-place end at LIV Golf Mayakoba however has but to file a outcome higher than that since.

That features his lackluster efficiency at The Masters, the place he tied for forty fifth.

“Clearly not excellent, with Augusta the way in which that it went,” Koepka stated when requested to explain the state of his sport.

Photograph by Andrew Redington/Getty Photos

“I really feel like I wasted on a regular basis from December till then. Simply preserve grinding away, preserve doing the work, and hopefully, one thing will flip round.”

Koepka has struggled on the greens, which have restricted his possibilities of as soon as once more getting into the winner’s circle.

“I can’t discover the outlet in any respect, to be sincere with you,” Koepka added.

“I don’t know the way else to easily put it. I really feel like I’m hitting good putts; they simply preserve burning lips. Finally, it begins to put on on you after some time. All you are able to do is hit a very good putt and see the place it goes from there. Hopefully, they begin falling quickly.”

But, one thing has clicked for him not too long ago—a minimum of considerably. Extra putts fell within the gap final week in Adelaide, the place he carded two 6-under 66s at The Grange over his closing two rounds. That led to a Tenth-place end, his finest outcome for the reason that starting of the LIV Golf season.

Maybe he has found one thing along with his placing, which may assist his trigger this week on the Sentosa Golf Membership in Singapore, the positioning of the seventh LIV Golf occasion of the season.

Photograph by Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Photos

Koepka performed nicely there a yr in the past, carding three rounds within the 60s on the par-71 structure to complete solo third—one stroke behind Talor Gooch and Sergio Garcia, with the previous defeating the latter in a playoff.

“It’s a pure golf course,” Koepka stated of Sentosa.

“It’s all about positioning and being in the correct spot, ensuring you both hit the golf green otherwise you’re positioned appropriately.”

Ought to Koepka play nicely on this course—one which fits ball-strikers over bombers—then questions of his poor type will dissipate heading into Valhalla. Sturdy finishes in each Adelaide and Singapore would show that Koepka is trending in the correct course.

However till he does that, questions on his type will proceed to linger—much more so if he fails to contend in Singapore. Regardless, all eyes will probably be on Koepka this week for his closing tune-up earlier than his PGA Championship protection.

Jack Milko is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By way of. You’ll want to take a look at @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You’ll be able to comply with him on Twitter @jack_milko as nicely.