In typical Brooks Koepka fashion, he’s rounding into form ahead of the first major of the season.
He’s been steadily improving since returning to the PGA Tour. Koepka missed the cut at the WM Phoenix Open, but since then, he’s changed putters, has a top 10 finish at the Cognizant Classic, and a T13 finish at The Players to his name.
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Koepka has more major championship wins (nine) than regular ones, and PGA Tour wins (four) in his career. If a big game player exists in golf, it’s him. He knows how to peak at the right moment, building up his form going into the major championships.
And there’s a key statistic that shows he’s doing exactly the same this year as he eyes up his first Green Jacket.
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Brooks Koepka is catching fire with his irons ahead of The Masters
Much has been made about Koepka’s putting since his PGA Tour return, and since switching to a mallet putter, he is working towards eliminating that weakness. And that’s bringing his greatest strength into play, his iron play.
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At the Valpsar Championship, where Koepka is in the top 10 after two rounds, he gained 3.6 strokes to the field on approach heading into the weekend. He was the fourth-ranked player in the field with his irons during Friday’s play.
This is becoming a trend for the American, who, since leaving LIV Golf and returning to the PGA Tour, has ranked in the top five in adjusted Strokes Gained: Approach.
Koepka wasn’t capitalising on the opportunities his iron play was generating, as his putter was ice cold, but now he’s rolling it nicely, so his ball striking ability is beginning to show up on the scorecard.
If he can continue this on the weekend at Innisbrook, then he’s a really intriguing pick to win at Augusta in just a few weeks’ time.
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Brooks Koepka names the key to contending at the Valspar Championship
Koepka is five shots back from the leading Sungjae Im at the Valspar Championship after shooting a second-round 67.
He said the key to his success this week will be continuing to find fairways and giving himself good looks at the green.
Koepka explained, “Felt like I found fairways. I was striking the ball really well, and yeah, I had good numbers.
“That was a big thing. Yesterday I felt like I was in between the numbers all day. Yeah, I’m just excited to give myself a little better opportunity going into the weekend.”
If Koepka continues to put himself in comfortable positions on fairways, then he can really lean into his strengths. And with his putter heating up, don’t be surprised to see a low number from him this weekend.
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