It’s unlikely Brooks Koepka could have had a worse start to the 103rd PGA Championship than the double bogey he made on 10.
But if it wasn’t already very evident, counting out Koepka at the PGA Championship is a fool’s errand.
The two-time PGA Champion made a six on the par-4 10th after struggling to get out of the waste bunker on the right side of the fairway. But Koepka bounced back with a birdie on No. 11 and ended up shooting even par on the back nine (his front) and then shot a 3-under 33 on the front nine (his back) to tie for the mid-afternoon lead with Viktor Hovland, Aaron Wise, and fellow PGA Champion Keegan Bradley at 3 under (69).
Koepka admitted he had a poor club choice on the 10th tee and called it a mental mistake.
“Deserved every bit of that double bogey,” said Koepka. “It kind of helped refocus. I can't play with any mistakes, maybe one a day, and that was my one, and I got it out of the way the first hole. Just had to be real careful and watch what I was doing.”
Koepka has been battling lower-body injuries for most of the last two years and it came to a head after the Masters when he couldn’t even bend down to read his putts. He still can’t make a proper bend, but he said he’s doing his best.
“I can get down low enough. My right leg just kicks out a bit. It is what it is,” said Koepka. “Every day gets a little bit better, but I don't notice it. I notice it kind of more over weeks. Week to week, I'll notice it gets a lot better. I mean, it feels fine right now.”
Regardless of Koepka’s health status, you can be sure he’s going to make sure to turn up as best as possible for a major championship. The two-time PGA Champion has also won two U.S. Open titles and has been a force at the four biggest Championships in golf over the last number of years.
“I felt like I already had confidence. So, in my mind, it's just a major week. Just show up,” said Koepka. “That's all you've got to do.”
Despite the fact at the Ocean Course is playing the longest of any major championship venue, Koepka was thriving on the conditions.
“I love it when it's difficult. I think that's why I do so well in the majors. I just know mentally I can grind it out. Like when it's windy like this, it's not so much putting, it's more about ball striking, and I felt like I struck it really well today,” said Koepka. “I feel like that's why I've done really well.”
So not an ideal start for Koepka, going 2 over after one hole, but he’s hoping for a fine finish – not surprising at a major championship.
“It's a major. I'm going to show up. I'm ready to play,” said Koepka. “I've been itching to do this since Augusta. I mean, I feel so much better now. I don't need to be a hundred percent to be able to play good.”
