Despite Cracking Driver at LIV Golf DC, Brooks Koepka is Still Riding High After PGA Championship

POTOMAC FALLS, Va. – Brooks Koepka finally arrived from his home in Jupiter, Florida, to the nation’s capital after a reintroduction to the Wanamaker Trophy, a couple of playoff games with the NHL’s Panthers and NBA’s Heat and some major league partying.

He's back.

Just a year ago the now-five-time major winner told Netflix while filming Full Swing, the golf documentary mini-series, that he was struggling with his game, his health and his future.

One year later the old Koepka – swaggering and self-assured – has returned, with some refinements that include a dose of humility and a better understanding of where he fits in the game.

But it’s the bravado that makes him who he is, and that is definitely back, in spades.

“I've always said double digits,” Koepka said when asked where his major count could get to. “I think I've said that a few times. But yeah, I don't think it's unreasonable … I don't see any reason why I can't. Your prime in golf is probably 30 to 40, so I've got another few good years in me.”

Five years ago Koepka ripped off four majors in a 24-month period, but then his health and game went sideways with a bad knee that made it tough just to crouch down to read a putt.

After surgery and rehab, Koepka says his left knee is stronger than his right.

But after all that happened over the two years of pain, self-doubt and emotional highs and lows, Koepka seemed to always have that edge.

“This one was way different,” Kopeka said of his fifth major title. “Just with the other four, kind of came so quick. I guess they kind of came all at once. At the time looking back now, it just seemed normal, which is kind of weird because they're not easy to win, so when you do win them, it's just more -- you get more appreciative. You realize how much hard work goes into it all, especially being down in the dumps, the lows. I'm not sure where my game was, and to finally get that success was fantastic.”

The 33-year-old missed LIV Golf’s Thursday pro-am due to a mechanical issue with his plane, and Friday he shot an even-par 72 at the LIV Washington, D.C. event. But he seemed unbothered while still riding the PGA Championship wave.

The only thing that has gone wrong for Koepka over the last two weeks was when his driver head cracked after his first tee shot on Friday, but because the crack was slight, he could not replace the driver under the rules of golf until the crack expanded to become a substantial issue.

So, Koepka kept asking for a rules official to look at the club after each drive until it was finally determined after the toe started to cave in that Koepka could replace his driver.

“Thank God it cracked now instead of coming down the stretch last week,” Koepka joked. “It happens. I've used it long enough, especially if you're going to hit it at those ball speeds.”

After the upcoming two rounds this weekend, Koepka has his first wedding anniversary with wife, Jena, a couple more playoff games and then the U.S. Open, where he will chase his sixth major title that would match Lee Trevino, Phil Mickelson and Nick Faldo.

“I don't know,” Koepka said when asked about which major would be the most difficult to win. “I have no idea. I mean, I think I can win them all. I think everybody should say that. Otherwise, why would you tee it up?”