Koepka Shows Improvement at Cognizant Classic, Eyes Players Championship

Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. – Brooks Koepka is demonstrating a return to form, highlighted by a strong performance at the Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches. The golfer finished with a final-round 65, marking his best result since returning to the PGA TOUR.

Turnaround on the Greens

Koepka’s recent performance represents a significant turnaround from earlier events in his comeback. He followed up a tie for 56th at the Farmers Insurance Open and a missed cut at the WM Phoenix Open with a much more consistent showing at PGA National. A key factor in his improved play was his performance on the greens, where he finished 15th in strokes gained: putting, gaining nearly three shots on the field.

Identifying the Key to Success

Koepka pinpointed his putting as the primary catalyst for his improved play.

It’ll carry over for sure. Honestly, it was just the putter. Because I wasn’t making any putts, I felt like I had to hit it to tap-in, so it was putting pressure on the iron play, maybe being more aggressive off the tee. It was kind of backfiring that way, Koepka stated.

He noted a breakthrough occurred on Thursday night, allowing him to build rhythm and momentum.

Looking Ahead to The Players Championship

Despite his improved form, Koepka is not currently qualified for the Tour’s signature events, such as next week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational. His next start will be The Players Championship, an event he last played in 2022. He anticipates arriving at TPC Sawgrass on Monday.

I would assume probably get up [to TPC Sawgrass] Monday around lunchtime, would be my guess. It’s a good week. It’s fun. Probably just get acclimated to everything again, Koepka said.

He also acknowledged potential course changes, noting, I don’t recognize, have they overseeded? It’s probably playing a little bit different than the last time I played.

Koepka was reinstated as a Tour member from LIV Golf via the circuit’s Returning Member Program in January.

FAQ

• What was Koepka’s final-round score at the Cognizant Classic? 65
• What event will Koepka play next? The Players Championship
• When was the last time Koepka played in The Players Championship? 2022

Koepka’s performance at the Cognizant Classic signals a positive trajectory as he continues his return to the PGA TOUR. His focus on improving his putting game appears to be paying dividends, setting the stage for a potentially strong showing at The Players Championship.