Koepka withdraws from U.S. Open with injuries

Phil Mickelson and Tom Brady took on Tiger Woods and Peyton Manning in Capital One’s “The Match: Champions for Charity� at Florida’s Medalist Golf Club on Sunday. Tiger and Phil, together again, only now partnering quarterbacks and playing to raise money in the fight against COVID-19, and with everyone wearing microphones to great effect. THE MATCH: Leaderboard | Team Tiger/Peyton wins | Top 10 observations Woods and Manning held on to win 1 up despite a valiant back-nine comeback by Mickelson and Brady, the latter having filled up the hole from both on and off the green. Most importantly, they raised $20 million, and The Match was pure fun to watch. Mickelson was especially chirpy early, joking that he’d brought out his “Tiger Slayer� Odyssey putter, and, fueled by coffee, was preparing to activate his calves for the long-drive contest on the third hole. “Yes, ladies and gentlemen,� Woods said, “this is what I have to listen to every time we play.� Not that he didn’t get some digs in of his own, later stating that he could mark his ball with the gold medal from the U.S. Open. All told, it was another fascinating installment of Tiger and Phil. After 20-plus years of these guys, the rivalry somehow still has legs. Why is that? The contrast in styles (righty vs. Lefty, strategist vs. seat-of-the-pants, new kid vs. more established pro) has helped; there was never any confusing one for the other. Rory McIlroy said much the same thing about the overseeded grass after winning THE PLAYERS Championship last year; he could differentiate the fairway from the rough as he stood on the tee. Contrast is everything. But it must be the right kind of contrast. Without trying to, Tiger and Phil fit the classic rivalry mold perfectly, one side a seemingly immovable pillar of excellence (Woods, who once made 142 straight cuts) and the other a less disciplined genius (Mickelson, who hit a ball through a gap in the pines at the 2010 Masters). They were Borg and McEnroe; the old-school Boston Celtics and the Showtime Los Angeles Lakers; and Boris Spassky and bad boy Bobby Fischer. Such contrasts allow us to access the full range of emotions, for while one side inspires awe and commands respect (82 PGA TOUR victories, 15 majors, two PLAYERS titles), the other alternately drives us mad (what do you need with two drivers?) and deliriously happy (2004 Masters, 2007 PLAYERS, 2013 Open Championship). And no, you can’t manufacture a rivalry – except in a script, where you totally can. Soviet-built machine Ivan Drago and big-hearted Rocky Balboa in “Rocky IV� come to mind, although I’m not proud of that. For a rivalry to really work, however, both sides have to occasionally win. Competitive balance is the special sauce, and this is where Tiger and Phil almost didn’t end up clicking. Way back in 2001 at a Mexican restaurant in Scottsdale, Arizona, Mickelson told me something that at the time seemed debatable. “When I compete with Tiger,� he said as we ate chips and salsa, “I can see myself – the line of a putt, the shot I want to hit – more clearly.� I nodded, but Woods seemed to be in a class by himself. He had just set or tied 27 PGA TOUR records as he won nine times in 2000. Still, Mickelson had won the TOUR Championship that year, firing a 66 to overtake Woods (69) and Vijay Singh, so I wrote it in my notebook. And it turned out he was right. Studies have shown how sports rivals lift each other up; college and pro teams get quantifiably better in the year after their chief rival wins the championship. Long-distance runners are five seconds per kilometer faster if a top rival is in the race. So it went with Tiger and Phil. “Although we often see them as enemies,� author Adam Grant wrote in The New York Times last year, “our rivals can be our greatest allies. You can see this in the extreme in sports.� Tiger and Phil battled at Doral, Bay Hill, Firestone, Augusta National. We suspected that they made each other better, but now we know just how much better. As Justin Ray of The 15th Club wrote for PGATOUR.COM, for the last 15 years Mickelson has gained an average of 1.12 strokes on the field per round, but when playing alongside Woods that number has jumped to 2.00 strokes per round. So, yeah, maybe Phil really did see the shot he wanted to hit more clearly. (Playing with Mickelson also helped Woods, although less so.) Who won the rivalry? Woods will end his career with far more victories, but as Ray points out, on 31 occasions when both were within five of the lead going into the final round, Woods won 10 times, Mickelson nine, while Woods shot a cumulative 51 under par, Mickelson 52 under. That they’ve grown into the rivalry perhaps shouldn’t surprise us. For as Grant, an organizational psychologist at Wharton, also wrote in The Times, “If you build a supportive relationship with that rival, it can elevate your performance even further.� Tiger and Phil took it to another level when they committed to the Ryder Cup Task Force after the U.S. Team’s lopsided defeat at Gleneagles in 2014, and are now closer than ever. Mickelson is even planning to move to South Florida; you can just imagine Phil knocking on Tiger’s door to ask if he can come out and hit some bombs, and Tiger rolling his eyes and agreeing. So, yes, they’ve made each other better on the course, but also off it. They’ve made Brady and Manning better, and at the Medalist on Sunday, all four of them did their part to make even the ongoing pandemic better. Even as we anticipate the twilight of their competitive careers, the rivalry between Tiger and Phil continues to elevate us all.

Click here to read the full article…

After finishing runner-up at last year’s PNC Championship, two back of John Daly and John Daly II, the father-son duo of Tiger and Charlie Woods set its sights on chasing a title this weekend at Ritz-Carlton GC outside Orlando. Team Woods delivered on expectations in the opening round, carding an 13-under 59 to enter Sunday’s final round in a tie for second, two back of leader Team Thomas. The father-son duo of Justin Thomas and his dad Mike, playing alongside Team Woods on Saturday, carded 15-under 57 in the opening round. Team Woods caught fire with eight consecutive birdies or better on Nos. 4-11, carding seven birdies along with an eagle at the par-5 fifth. The day was full of smiles, fist bumps and club twirls, along with some good-natured needling between the Woods and Thomas duos. RELATED: 6 equipment tweaks Tiger Woods made into PNC Championship | Live scoring | Charlie moves back a set of tees for 2022 Here’s a hole-by-hole breakdown of how Team Woods navigated Saturday’s opening round at the PNC Championship. Hole 18 (par 5, 557/500 yards) Tiger pulls driver on the day’s final hole and flushes it down the center of the fairway, providing a chance to get home in two on the reachable par 5. From 242 yards, Tiger pulls a long iron and produces a high cut that tracks toward the left corner of the green. He leans in anticipation as the ball sails through the air; it catches the green, releases and settles to leave a 25-foot eagle attempt. With no intention of leaving the eagle try short, Charlie’s putt has plenty of pace but slides by on the left side, running out 8 feet past the cup. Like son, like father; Tiger’s eagle putt also misses left and runs out, leaving 6 feet for birdie. No picnic for Team Woods on the final green. As he has all day, Charlie putts first, and he delivers to close out the round. His birdie putt falls into the cup, left-center, and he picks up his dad’s coin accordingly. A closing birdie and a 13-under 59 for Team Woods. Team Thomas makes birdie for a 15-under 57 and a two-stroke lead over Team Woods and Team Singh into Sunday’s final round. Team Woods 13-under thru 18 Hole 17 (par 3, 168 yards) Charlie plays a high cut on an aggressive line and executes a proper golf shot, the ball landing soft approximately 20 feet below the hole. Tiger tugs his tee shot slightly left; it bounces in the fringe and trickles into an adjacent water hazard. Charlie putts first on the right-to-left bender and produces a smooth stroke with perfect pace, but the ball drifts just to the left, well within tap-in range. Tiger’s putt tells the same story, missing slightly left of the hole. Routine par for Team Woods on the penultimate hole of the day. The hole is not complete without Tiger displaying some prankster ethos; he takes the flagstick and pretends to try and trip playing partner Justin Thomas with it. Team Thomas (14-under) is currently leading the field, after all. Keep Justin and Mike on their toes. Team Woods 12-under thru 17 Hole 16 (par 4, 425/375 yards) Tiger pulls driver and uncorks a beauty down the left side of the fairway, opening things up for Charlie to play aggressive from the forward tee. Charlie takes driver and makes a bold strike, but the ball drifts right and finds the adjacent water hazard. From 125 yards, Charlie plays first on approach and asks for it to cut. it doesn’t quite listen, as the ball lands and settles in the left fringe, but just 25 feet from the hole. Tiger plays next and has a similar wish for it to move left-to-right, but the ball flies slightly past Charlie’s and comes to rest in the fringe some 40 feet from the hole. Playing from his own position, Charlie goes first from the fringe and elects to chip. He employs an aggressive mindset and the ball has plenty of pace, but it races past the hole and rolls out to 15 feet. Tiger plays next on a more conservative pace; the ball comes to rest 4 feet short, leaving a knee-knocker for par. Charlie’s par putt drops in the right-center of the cup, and Team Woods matches Team Thomas’ par on the hole, keeping pace within two strokes of the Team Thomas lead. Team Woods 12-under thru 16 Hole 15 (par 4, 467/423 yards) Tiger pulls driver and tugs it slightly; he doesn’t catch it cleanly, and it holds up well back of the ideal resting place. That’s where Charlie comes in. The younger Woods plays next with driver and launches a high fade down the center of the fairway, flirting with a bunker but settling a few yards shy. Prime position to attack the flag. Charlie plays first from 140 yards and plays a slight fade that finds the green but leaves a lengthy birdie try of 35 feet or so. Tiger tugs his approach long and left; the ball settles slightly closer than Charlie’s, but still leaving a 25-foot birdie attempt for the team. Playing from his dad’s spot, Charlie putts first and is tentative from the get-go, the ball coming to rest 4 feet short. Tiger’s putt has enough pace but misses 4 feet left, meaning the team will have some work to save its par. Charlie goes first on the par try, and the putt slides right of the hole. Tiger is up for the save, though; his slippery par attempt slides into the left side of the cup. In the meantime, Team Thomas makes birdie to move to 14-under thru 15; Team Woods now trails the lead by two. Team Woods 12-under thru 15 Hole 14 (par 5, 565/526 yards) Charlie plays first with a high fade and a “Fore right,” but the ball settles in a strip of rough just short of the bunker, leaving 224 yards into the par 5. Charlie gives the green a go with a fairway metal, playing a high cut that finds the fairway some 50 yards short and right of the green. Safely near the green, this frees up Tiger to play boldly on his approach, and he executes with a crisp cut and club twirl; the ball lands on the front of the green, 20 feet from the cup, and stays there. Tiger smiles and points to his son after the ball settles. Charlie putts first and pulls it slightly, as the ball misses on the left side and runs out a couple feet past. Tiger’s eagle putt does the exact same; the ball misses comfortably left of target. Charlie has no trouble cleaning up the birdie, though, and Team Woods moves within one stroke of the lead, which is now shared by Team Singh (F) and Team Thomas (thru 14). Team Woods 12-under thru 14 Hole 13 (par 4, 352/317 yards) Charlie pulls driver in attempt to give the green a go; he makes sound contact, but it is unclear where the ball ends up. After waiting for the green to clear ahead, Tiger pulls driver to give it a go. The ball sails left and seemingly catches a thicket of trees guarding the left side of the fairway. The duo jumps in the cart to drive toward its fate. Team Woods arrives in the fairway to find Tiger’s ball in pine straw, with a line to the green but tree trouble on the backswing. Charlie plays first and hits a proper pitch to the center of the green, leaving 25 feet for birdie. “Awesome shot,” his dad notes in approval. This frees up Tiger to take a more aggressive line over a bunker, and he doesn’t miss a beat, playing a high and spinning pitch to within 7 feet. Charlie putts first and delivers, the ball finding the center of the cup. From a potential bogey to a birdie, the Woods duo stays within two of current leader Team Singh (with a closing birdie to post 13-under 59). Team Woods 11-under thru 13 Hole 12 (par 3, 191/158 yards) Tiger plays first with a mid-iron that sails long and right, the ball coming to rest in a strip of rough between the fringe and a water hazard. Charlie pulls 7-iron and grimaces immediately upon impact before hopping on his right leg to brace the pain. The ball splashes in the water hazard to the right of the green, meaning a short-game test will be required for Team Woods to escape with par. On the chip shot from well below the putting surface, Tiger judges a high flop beautifully, the ball landing on the front of the green and releasing to within 2 feet. Charlie takes his time on the par try and has no trouble. A good save for Team Woods, which stands two off the pace of current leader Team Singh (12-under thru 17). The par ends Team Woods’ streak of eight consecutive birdies or better, three off its record pace, 11 straight birdies (Nos. 6-17) in the final round of last year’s PNC Championship. Team Woods 10-under thru 12 Hole 11 (par 4, 410/375 yards) Tiger pulls driver and maintains the good vibes, launching a pure strike down the left-center of the fairway. Charlie plays first on a wedge approach from 100 yards, producing a controlled strike that lands within 10 feet, just short and right of the hole. Tiger follows with a wedge that tracks toward the flag but pulls up some 20 feet short. Team Woods sticks to its strategy of Charlie putting first, allowing the elder Woods to study the break and gain intelligence accordingly. Charlie takes care of business on the front end, as the ball holds perfect pace and drops in the right-center of the cup. Another birdie for the Woods duo. Team Woods 10-under thru 11 Hole 10 (par 4, 387/355 yards) From just 62 yards, dead center of the fairway, Charlie plays first with a flip wedge. He chunks it and knows it immediately; the ball fails to reach the green, settling in the front fringe. Good thing he has an 82-time TOUR winner as his partner, though, as Tiger confidently strikes a controlled wedge that lands within 3 feet of the hole and stays right there. A fairway fist bump is exchanged between father and son. Charlie takes his time on the short birdie try before draining it, center-cut. Routine birdie for Team Woods, which is now 8-under across its last seven holes, making a significant move up the leaderboard in the process. Team Woods 9-under thru 10 Hole 9 (par 4, 453/389 yards) After splitting the fairway on his tee ball, Charlie plays first from just 117 yards out. (Tiger didn’t even hit a drive on this hole.) Charlie produces a one-handed follow through, as the ball lands in the fringe and settles on the front-right portion of the green, some 30 feet from the hole. Tiger plays next and is displeased with the ball flight, as it misses in a strip of fairway left of the green, a similar distance from the hole as Charlie’s. The duo selects Charlie’s birdie try from the front of the green, and Charlie plays first. He gives it plenty of pace but the ball misses right of the cup, scurrying 6 feet past the hole. Tiger has been heating up on the greens as the day has progressed, and this hole is no exception, as his well-judged birdie try catches the right side of the cup and drops. Birdie for Team Woods and a front-nine 28, the lowest opening nine by any team Saturday — matched shortly thereafter by Team Thomas. An enthused Tiger pumps his fist twice and slaps his leg, and Charlie tosses his dad the birdie ball before the duo exchanges a fist bump. Team Woods is now just three strokes off the leading pace of Team Leonard (11-under thru 13). Team Woods 8-under thru 9 Hole 8 (par 3, 200/170 yards) Tiger plays first with a 6-iron, hoisting it high in the air and seeing it hang out right, pin-high, leaving some 20 feet from the right fringe. Charlie plays next with a smooth strike that tracks toward the flag and settles safely on the green, 15 feet below the hole. Charlie putts first and misses just on the left side, buckling his knees as the ball rolls past the hole. Tiger doesn’t miss a beat; the ball starts left and turns right toward the center of the cup. It drops in the middle for another Team Woods birdie, as Charlie raises his fist with approval. The team is now 6-under across its last five holes, after a comparatively “slow” 1-under start through 3. Team Woods 7-under thru 8 Hole 7 (par 4, 363/329 yards) This short par 4 yielded a mid-range birdie try for Team Woods, heating up after a birdie-eagle-birdie stretch on holes 4-6. Charlie surveyed the scene on a 15-foot birdie attempt, playing slightly up the hill, and delivered a confident stroke. “Good putt, Charlie,” exclaimed his dad, with the ball still 6 feet out. The ball tracked toward the cup and dropped on the left side. Charlie raised his putter, as did Tiger, who provided a head pat of appreciation to commemorate the moment. “Welcome to the Father-Son, Charlie,” quips playing partner Justin Thomas as they head to the eighth tee. Team Woods 6-under thru 7 Hole 6 (par 4, 422/380 yards) Playing their approach from light rough, just 69 yards from the hole, Charlie plays a high, soft wedge that lands within inches of the cup and releases some 20 feet past. Tiger plays next, electing to position his ball in the pine straw for improved spin control to a front hole location; sure enough, the ball lands 10 feet past and sucks back to leave a short-range birdie try. Charlie plays first on the 8-foot birdie attempt, and it tracks toward the hole but burns the edge. Tiger, forever a student of the game, delivers on the teach with a beautifully judged left-to-right slider, as the ball drops in the right side of the cup. Birdie for Team Woods to keep pace with the field. Team Woods 5-under thru 6 Hole 5 (par 5, 558/528 yards) Tiger plays first with a soft cut driver that starts up the left side and fades back into the center of the fairway. Charlie pulls driver and backs off upon starting his initial downswing. “We’ve seen that move before,” quips the broadcast team. “It’s in the genes,” remarks Peter Jacobsen. Charlie recalibrates but immediately drops the club upon impact and loses his balance, nearly falling to the ground. Playing from dad’s drive, Charlie selects fairway wood off the deck, 229 yards out. He plays a high fade that reaches the front of the green, leaving 40 feet for eagle. Tiger also plays a fade and stares it down, the ball landing on the green hole-high and funneling into the fairway just right of the green, some 30 feet away. It makes for an intriguing decision regarding which ball to select. Team Woods opts for Tiger’s shot, leaving a short chip shot for eagle, playing from slightly below the hole. Charlie stubs his chip, the ball barely reaching the putting surface, provoking a remark of dismay. His dad makes quick amends, though. Tiger judges the chip to perfection as the ball lands just on the putting surface, checks and releases into the hole. Eagle for Team Woods, as Tiger and Charlie each pump their fist. Tiger raises his putter to a roaring crowd, and the duo shares a smiling fist bump. Team Woods 4-under thru 5 Hole 4 (par 3, 182/147 yards) Tiger plays first and selects a 7-iron. He stares it down; the ball hangs just right to leave some 25 feet for birdie up the hill. Charlie plays next with a three-quarter motion on a short iron; the ball settles in the fringe short-left, some 40 feet from the hole. Tiger’s shot will be the play. Charlie’s birdie try is on line but settles a few inches short, right in the jaws. Tiger plays next with a teach from his son, and he takes advantage, the ball tracking with perfect pace and dropping in the center of the cup. Charlie raises his putter in appreciation. Team Woods 2-under thru 4 Hole 3 (par 5, 529/510 yards) Charlie hits his drive and immediately grabs behind his left ankle upon impact. The younger Woods reportedly injured his ankle while hitting balls earlier this week. Playing off Charlie’s drive short-right, Tiger calls “Fore left” upon hitting his second shot. Meanwhile, playing partner Mike Thomas hits driver off the deck for his second. Team Woods faces a 55-yard third shot from pine straw left of the green. Charlie plays first and hits a punch wedge that sails some 30 feet over the green. Tiger plays it safe with a controlled punch that settles safely on the green, 20 feet short of the hole. Charlie’s birdie attempt tails just right; he removes his hat in dismay, placing it over his eyes. Tiger gives his birdie try an aggressive rap but hits it through the break, as the ball misses on the left side and rolls some 5 feet past. Charlie has no trouble, though, cleaning up the par. Team Woods 1-under thru 3 Hole 2 (par 4, 410/380 yards) Tiger and Charlie each split the fairway, leaving a short-iron approach into the green. Charlie stuffs his approach inside 8 feet; drawing cheers and a fist-bump from his dad. Charlie proceeds to drain the 4-footer for birdie, matching Justin Thomas’ 15-foot birdie from moments before. Justin Leonard and his son Luke have raced to a 7-under start through 7 holes, meaning birdies in bunches will be essential in order to stay around the lead. Team Woods 1-under thru 2 Hole 1 (par 4, 395/380 yards) Tiger and Charlie take the tee, wearing matching pink-and-red shirts and black trousers. They’re paired alongside close family friends Justin and Mike Thomas, who won the 2020 PNC Championship and proceeded to show up at the Woods household on Christmas Day wearing the event’s champion belt buckles. This time around, Tiger and Charlie aim to add these accessories to their holiday attire. Team Woods selects Charlie’s drive from the right side of the fairway. Tiger plays a wedge approach to the right fringe, while Charlie’s approach settles left of the right-tucked flag. Both players miss the 18-foot birdie try up the hill, and the team settles for an opening par. Team Woods even thru 1

Click here to read the full article…

While making his bed one day earlier this year, Brooks Koepka started crying in pain. Although he looks like the toughest guy in the room, the physical agony from his injured left wrist – which, after stem-cell treatment and platelet-rich plasma injections, had sidelined him for nearly four months – had reduced him to tears. Soon, he found a local chiropractor near his home in South Florida. The diagnosis? Koepka, with his soft cast removed, had dislocated his wrist while moving too quickly to pull up his bedsheets. “So he popped it back in,â€� Koepka said, “then we’re off and running.â€� And he never stopped. He returned to the PGA TOUR eight days later, spent the summer winning two majors, then finished inside the top 10 after the FedExCup Playoffs before slowing down long enough on Tuesday to claim the PGA TOUR Player of the Year award. “The lowest of lows and the highest of highs,â€� the 28-year-old Koepka said about the most unusual season. “It was pretty dramatic. Look, at the beginning of the season, I was just hoping to be back out playing again. To sit here after winning two majors and Player of the Year, I don’t think I even thought this was going to happen. “This is incredible. It’s an honor. It’s mind-boggling.â€� But it’s certainly no surprise. He has the game (one of the TOUR’s biggest bombers), he has the adaptability (his back-to-back U.S. Open wins were on different setups) and he has the mental mistake (hey, he’s chill) to emerge as one of the TOUR’s 20-something stars, right up there with JT, Jordan, Rory and the rest. “Calm. Collected. Confident,â€� was how Jack Nicklaus described Koepka. Perhaps the only thing he’s lacking is recognition — although being Player of the Year may finally eliminate that issue. Koepka once told Golf Digest that he’s “really good at blending inâ€� and by his own admission, he hangs out in the background as much as possible. “Most people don’t know the real me, my life off the golf course,â€� he said Tuesday. “I can go to plenty of restaurants and not have anybody come up and say anything, where a lot of guys can’t. Look at Dustin (Johnson) or Jordan or guys like that. They can’t do that. I’m still blending in.â€� Then with a laugh, he adds, “I mean, I get confused for Tony Finau most every week.â€� Koepka has turned this lack of attention into motivation. It allows him to play with a chip on his shoulder – much like Michael Jordan would take perceived slights and raise the level of his play against his NBA opponents. “I think you always have to play with a little chip on your shoulder if you want to get the best out of you,â€� Koepka said. “I love competition. I find a way, whatever it is, to try to play my best and get myself up for every event. “I think a lot of the chips that everyone’s been talking about is because I was left off notables as the defending champion of the U.S. Open, just things like that. To be at the PGA, I shoot a decent first-round score and the guy who never won a major shot two higher than I did, and he’s being interviewed. I’m like man, we’re in 10th, 12th place after the first day and I’m like, all right, I won a major this year, two-time major winner – you know what I mean? It seems kind of odd. But whatever…â€� On Tuesday, at least, there was no one slighting Koepka after his peers, his fellow competitors, voted him as Player of the Year. No golfer, from their perspective, had a better season. As a result, Koepka will receive the Jack Nicklaus Trophy. It’s not the first award in Koepka’s home that showcases an image of the Golden Bear. Born in West Palm Beach, Florida, and growing up in nearby Lake Worth, Koepka would occasionally see Nicklaus, a longtime resident of the area. Twice, Koepka won junior events at the Bear’s Club. The trophy was a plaque that included Nicklaus trading cards from the high points of his legendary career. “I still have those trophies,â€� Koepka said. “… It’s a very big plaque, as you can imagine, with all his major victories and everything. It’s pretty cool. “Mr. Nicklaus was always exactly what you’d expect he would be, very gracious and very kind. It’s nice to add something else of his to my trophy collection.â€� Provided that chip remains on Koepka’s shoulder, you get the feeling there will be more to come. In His Own Words A chronological list of quotes from Brooks Koepka that reflect the ebb and flow of his 2017-18 season: “Game feels good and excited to start the season.â€� (Oct. 26) “I have some wrist issues. I want to figure that out. I can’t grip anything strong with my left hand.â€� (Dec. 6, via AP) “It felt like someone was jabbing a knife in my hand. The problem is we don’t have any answers.â€� (Jan. 7, via Golf Channel) “I am frustrated that I will now not be able to play my intended schedule. But I am confident in my doctors and in the treatment they have prescribed, and I look forward to teeing it up at the Masters.â€� (Jan. 19 statement) “They said I would be about 80 percent but I can’t play 80 percent. I either have to go full bore or not at all.”(March 20 on decision to not play Masters, via USA Today) “It feels like I’ve been out for six months. … It was torn a lot worse than they originally thought.â€� (April 20, via AP) “There’s nobody more excited to be here than me, I can tell you that. To get back out, it felt like it took forever.â€� (May 13 at THE PLAYERS Championship) “I feel like my game is coming around. … I am finally finding a rhythm and feel like I’m getting really close.â€� (May 26) “I feel like it healed nicely. I like where my game’s trending right now.â€� (June 7) “To have my name on there twice is pretty incredible, and to go back-to-back is even more extraordinary. It feels so special.â€� (June 17 after winning second straight U.S. Open) “I’ll be honest. I’m dead right now.â€� (June 21 at Travelers) “Right now I’m focused on just winning. That’s the only thing I’ve got in my mind. Second place just isn’t good enough. I finished second a lot and just tired of it.â€� (July 17 on eve of Open Championship) “Didn’t play very good. Didn’t strike it good. Never really felt comfortable.â€� (July 22 after finishing T-39 at the Open) “Missing four months, the schedule got completely flipped around for me. I’m having to play a lot right now to play some events because I missed so much time.â€� (July 25 on eve of RBC Canadian Open) “It was as good as I’ve hit it in my pro career. I don’t think I’ve ever driven it as well as I did. .. I feel confident going into next week.â€� (Aug. 5 after WGC-Bridgestone Invitational) “When you take four months off, you really appreciate it and you’re eager to get back out there. Anytime you can tee it up, especially only doing three majors, it makes every one a little bit more important. I kind of fell back in love with the game a little bit.â€� (Aug. 7 on eve of PGA Championship) “When I look at what I’ve done in the past two months, it’s incredible. Looking where I was, sitting on my couch watch the Masters, and to think I would do this, I would have laughed at you and told you there was no way, no chance.â€� (Aug. 12 after winning PGA) “There’s a lot on my mind. I can get to world No. 1, win the FedExCup. It’s a big stretch, these next four weeks.â€� (Aug. 23) “I don’t see why it has to end. If I keep doing what I’m doing, I don’t see why it should stop.â€� (Sept. 27) Brooks By The Numbers Hitting the statistical highlights of Koepka’s season: 68.27 — Koepka’s final-round scoring average. Of the 140-plus primary statistical categories used by ShotLink, it’s the only category this season in which Koepka led the TOUR. It’s also the eighth best final-round average since 1980 when data was first collected. 9th — Koepka’s ranking in Scrambling this season, based on his 64.3 percent success rate. Before this season, Koepka had never ranked better than 108th in Scrambling. 33 — Number of times a player has won multiple majors in the same season. Koepka becomes the most recent player on that list. 411 — Length in yards of Koepka’s longest drive this season, on the 16th hole of the final round of the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational. That tied for the 20th longest drive of the season. 62.5 — Percentage of Koepka’s tee shots that were over 300 yards. No player had a higher percentage this season (see chart below). A Mixed Bag Equipment Insider Jonathan Wall reviews the tools that fueled Koepka this season: Coming off his first major championship win during the 2016-17 PGA TOUR season, Brooks Koepka limited the equipment changes to the driver during the 2017-18 campaign. After opening the year with TaylorMade’s M4 driver, Koepka swapped the club for the company’s M3 at THE PLAYERS Championship, due to the flight it produced and how easy it was to turn the ball over on command. A former Nike Golf equipment staffer, Koepka continues to play a Vapor Fly Pro 3-iron. Mizuno’s JPX-900 Tour irons were originally created with Koepka in mind when he became an equipment free agent following Nike’s departure from the hard-goods industry in 2016. Koepka’s 35-inch Scotty Cameron T10 Select Newport 2 putter was refinished prior to his return to the course at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. The “T10” represents the 10th anniversary of Scotty Cameron using Teryllium inserts in putters made for TOUR players. Over the years, Koepka has added weight to the putter head, going from a D6 swing weight to closer to D9 with the current version. Driver: TaylorMade M3 (Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 70TX shaft), 9.5 degrees 3-wood: TaylorMade M2 Tour HL (Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 80TX shaft), 16.5 degrees Irons: Nike Vapor Fly Pro (3-iron; Fujikura Pro 95 Tour Spec X shaft), Mizuno JPX-900 Tour (4-PW; True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 shafts) Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM7 (52-12F, 56-10S, 60-08M degrees; True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 shafts) Putter: Scotty Cameron T10 Select Newport 2 Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

Click here to read the full article…