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It's been more than six months since Brooks Koepka left LIV Golf and returned to the PGA Tour, and it seems the five-time major champion is right where he wants to be.
Koepka's season has been feast-or-famine of sorts. He's missed four cuts in 13 starts, but when he plays the weekend, he's been pretty dang good. In the nine events where he's made the cut, he has six top-20 finishes, highlighted by a T-12 at the Masters and a T-13 at the Players. His best result thus far is a tie for ninth at the Cognizant Classic.
Winning is in Koepka's DNA. One doesn't win five majors without a relentless competitive drive embedded inside. In the past, Koepka probably would have said as much, but while speaking to the media Wednesday ahead of the Genesis Scottish Open, Koepka struck a different tune — one that he continues to show more of in this proverbial new chapter of his life.
"I think I've been most pleased with — this is probably going to come across a little selfish — but just the happiness that I have," Koepka said of his first season back on the PGA Tour after a three-year stint with LIV Golf. "Maybe a weight lifted off my shoulders, or it's not — I kept [the move] a secret for a little while, so it's not the easiest thing. But I just see the happiness. I'm able to be around my son a lot more. Jena is able to be around and they are able to travel to a lot more events. Things like that, that stuff brings me happiness."
In January, Koepka, 36, said the main reason for his return to the PGA Tour was his family — that "just being able to be close to them is super important." So while he's yet to truly contend for a 10th career Tour victory, it seems safe to say Koepka is accomplishing exactly what he set out to.
"Whether I play good or whether I play bad, I walk off the 18th green, my wife and son are standing right there ... My son doesn't care if I shoot 80 or 65, he doesn't know the difference. It's 'Da-Da,' he goes that way and runs towards me. That's cool. Having them around has been amazing, and takes a little bit of the pressure way from when you're playing."
And now that his heart is full off the course, he believes it will help his results on it. Statistically, he's been stellar in most ball-striking categories, but the flat stick has betrayed him on numerous occasions. He's 103rd on Tour in Strokes Gained: Putting. If he can find a solution, that 10th win could very well be in the cards before the year is up. For now, he's just focusing on the positives.
"Most disappointing thing? My putting," Koepka said with a grin. "Listen, I've played great. I feel like last year I wasn't in the head space to actually play good golf, and now that everything is kind of cleared up and I'm in a better — we all have that, right? It's life. Sometimes it's easy and sometimes it's difficult. There's a lot of stuff, like I said, off the golf course, on the golf course, didn't matter. Didn't feel like I could catch a break, as a player, as a person, as a family."
Nick Stavas is a digital producer and commerce writer for Golfweek. Follow him on X/Twitter (@nickstavas).
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: With family by his side, Brooks Koepka has found 'happiness' on PGA Tour
Continue reading...
Koepka's season has been feast-or-famine of sorts. He's missed four cuts in 13 starts, but when he plays the weekend, he's been pretty dang good. In the nine events where he's made the cut, he has six top-20 finishes, highlighted by a T-12 at the Masters and a T-13 at the Players. His best result thus far is a tie for ninth at the Cognizant Classic.
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Winning is in Koepka's DNA. One doesn't win five majors without a relentless competitive drive embedded inside. In the past, Koepka probably would have said as much, but while speaking to the media Wednesday ahead of the Genesis Scottish Open, Koepka struck a different tune — one that he continues to show more of in this proverbial new chapter of his life.
"I think I've been most pleased with — this is probably going to come across a little selfish — but just the happiness that I have," Koepka said of his first season back on the PGA Tour after a three-year stint with LIV Golf. "Maybe a weight lifted off my shoulders, or it's not — I kept [the move] a secret for a little while, so it's not the easiest thing. But I just see the happiness. I'm able to be around my son a lot more. Jena is able to be around and they are able to travel to a lot more events. Things like that, that stuff brings me happiness."
In January, Koepka, 36, said the main reason for his return to the PGA Tour was his family — that "just being able to be close to them is super important." So while he's yet to truly contend for a 10th career Tour victory, it seems safe to say Koepka is accomplishing exactly what he set out to.
You must be registered for see images
"Whether I play good or whether I play bad, I walk off the 18th green, my wife and son are standing right there ... My son doesn't care if I shoot 80 or 65, he doesn't know the difference. It's 'Da-Da,' he goes that way and runs towards me. That's cool. Having them around has been amazing, and takes a little bit of the pressure way from when you're playing."
And now that his heart is full off the course, he believes it will help his results on it. Statistically, he's been stellar in most ball-striking categories, but the flat stick has betrayed him on numerous occasions. He's 103rd on Tour in Strokes Gained: Putting. If he can find a solution, that 10th win could very well be in the cards before the year is up. For now, he's just focusing on the positives.
"Most disappointing thing? My putting," Koepka said with a grin. "Listen, I've played great. I feel like last year I wasn't in the head space to actually play good golf, and now that everything is kind of cleared up and I'm in a better — we all have that, right? It's life. Sometimes it's easy and sometimes it's difficult. There's a lot of stuff, like I said, off the golf course, on the golf course, didn't matter. Didn't feel like I could catch a break, as a player, as a person, as a family."
Nick Stavas is a digital producer and commerce writer for Golfweek. Follow him on X/Twitter (@nickstavas).
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: With family by his side, Brooks Koepka has found 'happiness' on PGA Tour
Continue reading...
