Those taking interest in Brooks Koepka’s preview press conference at this US PGA Championship may have sensed an unwitting stumble into an episode of Grey’s Anatomy. Some 16 out of 17 questions as posed to Koepka related in some way or other to matters of injury.
Therein lies the reason it has been easy to forget Koepka’s one-time – and recent – specialism on these platforms. Fitness woes, apparently prolonged by knee surgery just weeks before the Masters, have threatened to undermine the Floridian’s quest for greatness. Two of the 31‑year‑old’s major triumphs to date came in this event.
Koepka missed the cut at Augusta National last month. He should have no such problems on Kiawah Island. An opening round of 69 afforded Koepka an early share of the lead in the second major of 2021.
Koepka’s showing was all the more admirable given the double bogey he produced at the 10th, his 1st. Bullish Brooks is back, even if it is easy to infer at least an element of on-course discomfort.
“I’m ready to play,” he said. “I’ve been itching to do this since Augusta. I feel so much better now. I don’t need to be 100% to be able to play good. In my mind, it’s just a major week. Just show up. That’s all you’ve got to do.” The thing is, for a spell Koepka did actually make it look that easy.
Koepka arrived in South Carolina as the world’s 13th-ranked player. He spent 38 consecutive weeks at No 1 from May 2019. Various ailments explain what happened next but this slide would have been no less easy for Koepka to handle. For so long, he talked the talk and walked the walk. An attritional day one at Kiawah pulled Koepka back towards his psychological comfort zone.
“I love it when it’s difficult,” Koepka added. “I think that’s why I do so well in the majors. I just know mentally I can grind it out.
“Like when it’s windy like this, it’s not so much putting, it’s more about ball striking. I felt like I struck it really well today.”
Save for that first hole, where he thrashed a three-wood into a grass bank. “I deserved every bit of that double bogey,” Koepka said.
Rory McIlroy, playing with Koepka, watched his opening tee shot sail high, wide and not very handsomely into a water hazard. McIlroy’s 75 was notable for the hitting of just seven from 14 fairways and 30 putts.
Context is important – this was a brutally tough day on a brutally tough course – but McIlroy has bemoaned slow starts in major championships. Playing late on Friday, when gusts are likely to be severe, is unlikely to give the Northern Irishman much scope to recover ground.
Keegan Bradley, Aaron Wise and Viktor Hovland joined Koepka at three under par. Bradley cracked his drive at the 18th into a grandstand before admitting an element of method behind the madness.
“It’s definitely comforting that it’s there,” Bradley said. “It’s the right side of the hole, the bunkers are so dead over there. I wasn’t trying to hit it in there by any means but definitely from that tee, it’s in play. I feel bad for all those people up there. They’d better have their hard hats on.”
Collin Morikawa, the defending champion, signed for a 70. Bryson DeChambeau admitted he was “out of sorts” after a 72. His was a strange day that included five bogeys.
“The wind kicked my butt,” said DeChambeau. “This is the most difficult golf course that I’ve played on tour, and that is a straight-up fact for me. That requires a lot of energy.”
There were minor rumblings of discontent as Rickie Fowler was handed a special exemption to compete here. Fowler’s 71 proved a fine start in respect of justifying the PGA of America’s generosity. “I have a little extra motivation, maybe,” Fowler said.
“Obviously I am very appreciative to have the opportunity to be here. Prior to getting the special invite, we were already under the assumption that I was in.
“I’m not sure exactly how, but I was told that I was in. I’ll take the invite and be here in a heartbeat but I think there is a little more motivation to go take advantage of it.”
Tyrrell Hatton, Paul Casey, Louis Oosthuizen and the 2013 champion Jason Dufner were among those to match Fowler’s 71. Dufner, who is renowned for his swing knowledge, was wonderfully candid when asked whether he might fancy coaching at the conclusion of his playing career. “Never,” Dufner said.
“First off, there’s no money in it, and second off, dealing with tour players is a nightmare. You don’t want to be part of it. That’s just fact. Ask any of the teachers.”