PGA Championship: Brooks Koepka’s main mindset past helpful

Brooks Koepka, the reigning PGA Championship winner, brings a definite technique to main tournaments, setting him other than his friends.

His focus hits one other stage, and he transforms into another person.

No surprise he has the nickname ‘Main Brooks.’

“My demeanor and focus are simply completely different. I can’t clarify it,” Koepka stated Wednesday at Valhalla Golf Membership.

“All people on the crew can see it. They know I can stroll proper previous them and I don’t even know they’re there typically. It’s a grinding week. You’ve acquired to be totally locked in. I really feel like you’ll be able to’t take one shot off. I like that. You’re all the time one shot away from making a double bogey, and that’s what I like.”

The 4 majors have all the time meant one thing extra to Koepka, much like Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.

Therefore, Koepka desires to interrupt their data and win as many majors as potential. Koepka clinched his fifth main title at Oak Hill a 12 months in the past, making him the twentieth participant to realize that feat.

Photograph by Maddie Meyer/PGA of America by way of Getty Photographs

His mindset units him aside. When he gained back-to-back U.S. Opens in 2017 and 2018 after which consecutive PGA Championships in 2018 and 2019, Koepka seemed like a robotic—main many to check him to Woods.

Each gamers have the power to get right into a aggressive mindset that makes them practically unbeatable.

Nevertheless, Koepka shouldn’t be invincible. Whereas he stated he stays “fairly locked in” at majors, he admitted to trying forward at different occasions of the 12 months.

“You’re purported to exit and win and go compete,” he stated.

“It’s occurred to me, however attempt to not let that occur.”

Koepka got here up quick at The Masters this 12 months regardless of coming into the event as one of many favorites. Taking dwelling a Inexperienced Jacket is one thing he desperately desires.

He completed tied for forty fifth at Augusta Nationwide and known as the efficiency a wasted time. He completed runner-up to Jon Rahm on the 2023 Masters.

After The Masters, he apologized to his crew and turned the depth up a notch.

“We had discuss and simply type of put our nostril down and stored grinding,” he stated. “You already know, had some troublesome punishment exercises. It was lengthy hours on the vary. I simply labored with all people and tried to return to the basics, which was the essential factor.”

Koepka discovered the problem and, a few weeks later, gained the LIV Golf Singapore occasion.

He, together with Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, are all coming off massive wins of their newest begins, which makes this main championship at a big-boy course like Valhalla much more thrilling.

Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Enjoying Via. For extra golf protection, you’ll want to comply with us @_PlayingThrough on all main social platforms. You too can comply with her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.