Defending champ Koepka seeks to recapture his magic at the PGA - Capital Sports
Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

American Brooks Koepka has been struggling to find his form for much of 2020 but a second place finish in Memphis last week has him optimistic of securing his third-straight PGA Championship

Golf

Defending champ Koepka seeks to recapture his magic at the PGA

SAN FRANCISCO, United States, Aug 4When it comes to playing on the biggest stage in golf, the smart money is usually on Brooks Koepka.

Koepka has a history of playing his best in the majors and after last week’s performance in Memphis, he looks primed to make a run at the three-peat at the PGA Championship in San Francisco.

Over the past five years, the 30-year-old American has been the most dominant player in the majors, winning two US Opens and the last two PGA Championships.

“I enjoy when it gets tough. I enjoy when things get complicated,” Koepka said on Tuesday during practice at the TPC Harding Park course. “There’s always disaster lurking.

“It is something I enjoy, where every shot really means something. Every shot is so important and you can’t lose focus on one.

“That’s something I’m really proud of. That I can always just hang in there mentally and hit the shot that I need to hit at the right time, and don’t let off the gas pedal.”

Koepka had been battling a bad knee and subpar results before finishing tied for second last week at the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational.

Koepka said Tuesday he has been tinkering with his swing and paying special attention to the mental aspect of his game.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

“I think that’s why I’ve played so well (in majors) is I break things down very easily,” he said. “For some reason, people make golf a lot more complicated than it should be. Worried about where shots go, results, you know, putting more emphasis on this week or the major weeks.

– ‘Mentally drained’ –

“When to me, it almost seems the most relaxing week of the year. I feel like Monday to Wednesday I am conserving energy mentally. I’ve got a good routine, nine holes pretty much every day and I leave the golf course feeling pretty refreshed.

“By Sunday, I’m mentally drained. It is more mentally exhausting with a major. I think that’s one of the strengths of my game.”

Koepka likes the layout at the TPC Harding Park event which will be contested starting Thursday without fans because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“It’s a big boy golf course. Tough place. Tough setup,” he said.

Koepka is looking to claim his third consecutive PGA title, something not accomplished since 1926. Koepka won the 2018 PGA Championship and successfully defended his title last year at Bethpage Black.

He had been struggling to find his form in 2020 but worked his way into contention last week before delivering his best result of the year and gaining some much needed momentum heading into his bid for a three-peat.

“I had no other option other than to find it,” he said of his game. “I mean, you always want to turn it around.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

“As far as confidence, I got frustrated. I think anybody would. Nobody likes playing bad. But at the same time, I knew it was only a couple swings away. I knew that once I got the feeling, I’d be off and running, and here we are.”

The biggest cause for concern has been the pain and swelling in Koepka’s bothersome left knee.

“It’s just been a lot of patience. I had a lot of sitting around and waiting and doing rehab. Just trying to make sure we’re ready for this week,” he said.

Advertisement

More on Capital Sports

Football

NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 27 – DStv and GOtv subscribers are in for a treat of the world’s best football this week as the 2020-21...

Football

NAIROBI, Kenya, May 25 – There is light at the end of the tunnel. After failed promises over the last three years since its...

Football

NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 6 – Gentrix Shikangwa scored with two minutes left as Vihiga Queens sailed to the final of the CECAFA regional qualifiers...

NFL

NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 13 – Kenya’s history making Daniel Adongo, the first Kenyan to play in America’s National Football League (NFL), is now living...

© 2024 Capital Digital Media. Capital Group Limited. All Rights Reserved