PGA Championship: Brooks Koepka forces persistence upon himself

Reigning PGA Championship winner Brooks Koepka turned in a stable efficiency at Valhalla on day one. He carded a 4-under 67 to sit down 5 photographs off the chief Xander Schauffele.

Koepka needed to battle for strokes on the course. Issues ultimately paid off for him when he made an eagle and birdie on the par-5 seventh and par-3 eighth.

Regardless of seeing others round him go decrease, the 3-time Wanamaker Trophy winner didn’t stray from his technique.

“I believed it was stable [round]. Felt like I simply form of stayed affected person by the entire thing,” Koepka mentioned.

“It was fairly ho-hum—hit one unhealthy drive, made bogey there on 17. Drew a reasonably brutal lie in the best tough. However I felt like the one time I made birdies, they have been five-footers. I wasn’t placing unhealthy, however wasn’t hitting it exceptionally shut. Yeah, felt fortunate to complete the way in which I did.”

Each participant will wrestle in some unspecified time in the future throughout a serious championship. Therefore, you will need to keep the course and keep in mind that it is just the primary day of the occasion.

“That’s what majors are all about, I believe,” he mentioned.

“You’ll be able to’t win it right this moment, however you simply attempt to cling round and provides your self an opportunity or be in a great spot come Sunday… [my caddy] Ricky [Elliott] saved telling me all day keep affected person, wait your flip, and I believe that’s one of many issues I’m exceptionally good at. You’ve received to attend your flip and catch that run like I did with an eagle-birdie.”

Final 12 months at Oak Hill, Koepka shot a gap 2-over 72 on Thursday. Issues didn’t look good for him, but he remained affected person.

The 5-time main winner adopted up that 72 with back-to-back 66s and a 67 on Sunday to win by two photographs over Scottie Scheffler and Viktor Hovland.

Whereas Koepka routinely waits for his flip, he is aware of he’s impatient. So, he started watching different guys like Dustin Johnson and Graeme McDowell to know how they let stuff roll off their backs.

“It will drive me nuts; I used to be striving for perfection,” Koepka mentioned.

“I watched DJ on the WGC down at Doral, Trump’s place. He hit it proper into the timber; I’ll always remember it. He punched it out, and it hit the curve of the cart path, and it got here again to the place I used to be, and he laughed at it.”

“Then, attending to know DJ over time, how he thinks and the way he approaches issues, I believe that his greatest attribute is with the ability to if one thing unhealthy occurs, simply let it go; and if one thing good occurs, you don’t wish to get too excessive, too low, simply form of keep and experience the wave just a little bit.”

Koepka has three rounds left at Valhalla Golf Membership in his title protection run. He was on this spot earlier than when he gained his second straight PGA Championship in 2019.

Can he make it occur once more and earn main quantity six?

Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By means of. For extra golf protection, make sure you observe us @_PlayingThrough on all main social platforms. It’s also possible to observe her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.