Brooks Koepka made a shock return to the PGA Tour in January, but we’re yet to see the best of him.
However, Koepka has been showing signs of improvement over the past month or so.
He finished tied for ninth at the Cognizant Classic and ended up in a tie for 13th at The Players Championship last week.
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Koepka obviously knows how to win the biggest tournaments and that mentality should stand him in very good stead heading into the weekend at the Valspar Championship.
The 35-year-old will be desperate to win on the PGA Tour as soon as possible, and only then will he feel like he has arrived again.
Koepka has received huge support from the fans on the PGA Tour since he returned from LIV Golf earlier this year.
He made a very slow start to life back on the PGA Tour.
However, it is obvious that we are now very close to seeing the very best of Brooks Koepka once again.
Brooks Koepka admits PGA Tour return exposed just how bad one part of his game was
The five-time major winner addressed the media after his second round at the Copperhead Course on Friday.
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Koepka was asked by reporters whether his recent improvements have come about because he’s starting to feel more comfortable now back on the PGA Tour.
“No, I just think it’s more reps,“ Koepka said.
Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images
“First week just wanted to make the cut and kind of get it over with. Then Phoenix just kind of exposed how bad the putting was.
“I was able to fix that, correct that, and made some adjustments and here we are.“
Koepka is ranked first in strokes gained approach during the first two rounds of the Valspar and 31st in strokes gained putting.
He is ranked 152nd in strokes gained putting this season on the PGA Tour, so the improvements he has made at the Valspar this week are clear to see.
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He’s ranked 42nd off the tee but is way down in 73rd around the greens. So he will need to tidy up his chipping and pitching of the ball if he is to challenge for the title this weekend.
Brooks Koepka says if he can win the Valspar Championship
The 35-year-old American trails the leader, Sungjae Im, by five shots heading into the weekend.
Koepka tees off an hour before Sungjae on Saturday, so the American has a great chance to make inroads on the leader before the South Korean has even started his third round.
After his second round, the five-time major champion was asked whether he believes he can win this weekend in Palm Harbor.
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“Just put the driver in play. If I can drive it as well as I did today I’ll give myself a good chance,“ Koepka said.
Just putted a little better. I think the greens are starting to firm up a little bit, which is nice.
“I like the way that it’s playing versus how it was playing yesterday.“
The harder the golf course becomes throughout the weekend, the more chance the 35-year-old Floridian will have of winning the tournament.
Koepka is at his best when playing difficult golf courses, and he may well be the last man standing at the Valspar Championship come Sunday evening.
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