Brooks Koepka Leads Masters at 12 Under After Completing Second Round
Brooks Koepka says he is healthy again and with that comes the confidence that was lacking for a good part of the past three years. Now the scores are showing up, too.
Koepka, the four-time major champion who for the better part of four years always seemed to be around the lead at the biggest tournaments, is atop the Masters leaderboard after 5-under-par 67 on Friday at Augusta National.
After an opening 65, Koepka played the par-5s in 5 under par—including an eagle 3 at the 8th hole—and parred everything else to get to the clubhouse at 132, 12 under par, before the inclement weather was expected to come. He was five ahead of his nearest pursuers at that point.
“I don’t think too far ahead,” Koepka said when asked whether he has returned to his 2017–19 form when he won two U.S. Opens and two PGA Championships. “The feeling is probably pretty similar. I feel really good. I like the way I’m swinging the golf club, putting it, chipping it, driving it, iron play is solid. It feels really similar.”
Koepka has had numerous injury woes in recent years, including issues with both knees and a hip. Two years ago, he dislocated his right knee just a month before the Masters, tried to play anyway and missed the cut, then had good runs at the PGA Championship—where he played with winner Phil Mickelson in the final group—plus the U.S. Open and the British Open.
But last year his confidence was shot, and he went through a tumultuous summer in which he jumped to LIV Golf and continued to play poorly until a late-season victory in Jeddah.
On Sunday, Koepka became the first player in 11 LIV Golf events to win twice.
And he admitted he felt as good physically as he does now; perhaps that LIV decision would have been different—or at least more difficult.
“Honestly, yeah, probably, if I’m being completely honest,” Koepka said. “I think it would have been. But I’m happy with the decision I made.”
Koepka has made just one bogey in two days, and that came at the par-5 13th on Thursday, where he found the creek off the tee. On Friday, he hit it to the back of the green and two-putted for birdie.
“I don’t think Brooks has ever lacked confidence,” said Gary Woodland, who won the 2019 U.S. Open—where Koepka finished second trying for three in a row at the tournament. “It shows in his game. He plays aggressive. He plays super quick, which just shows you how confident he is. There’s no question to anything he’s doing, which is awesome to see.”
Koepka was so frustrated with his game a year ago that he said he twice tried to break the back window of his rental car after missing the Masters cut. And it led to dark thoughts about giving up the game.
“If I wasn’t going to be able to move the way I wanted to I didn’t want to play the game anymore,” he said. “It’s just that simple. There was definitely some moments like that. Last year was pretty tough. Just a lot of frustration. Felt like I should have been ahead of where I was. Some other things off the course happened, and it doesn’t put you in a good mood. It’s tough to wake up every day and go through the whole grind.”
Koepka appears to be moving fine now, with the confident stride of years past. He appears headed for a 36-hole Masters lead with bad weather looming.