LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Brooks Koepka does not describe himself as a patient man.
But after years of studying such colleagues as Dustin Johnson, Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy, he has learned that patience on a golf course, especially at a major championship, might be just as important as a hot putter.
“Just stay patient,” Koepka said Thursday after a 4-under 67 in the opening round of the PGA Championship. “That’s what majors are all about, I think. You can’t win it today, but you just try to hang around and give yourself a chance or in a good spot come Sunday.”
That patience paid off Thursday on Koepka’s final two holes.
Koepka, the five-time major champion from Jupiter who now plays in the Saudi-backed LIV Golf league, was 1-under entering No. 7, his 16th hole. Koepka’s drive on the 590-yard fifth hole landed in the first cut, but because he would have been standing on a sprinkler head for his second shot, he was able to get free relief and a much better lie.
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That second shot from 211 yards stopped three feet from the pin. He tapped in the eagle putt.
“Got kind of lucky,” he said.
OK, so patience and luck.
On No. 8, a par 3, Koepka rolled in a 37-foot birdie putt.
On the fifth hole, Koepka told caddie Ricky Elliott it would be nice if he could get to 3 or 4 under.
“Ricky kept me telling all day just stay patient, wait your turn, and I think that’s one of the things I’m exceptionally well at,” Koepka said. “Sometimes you’re in a round of golf, you’ve just got to wait your turn and catch that run like I did with an eagle-birdie.”
Koepka then was asked if he’s always been a patient person.
“Oh, God, no,” he said. “I’m not a patient person.”
The patience came from studying Johnson, McDowell and McIlroy early in his career.
What he learned was to not take risks in major tournaments.
“I was very impatient,” he said. “I couldn’t understand I’m trying to hit a 7-iron to 15 feet. It would drive me nuts. I just was striving for perfection.
“I think in regular events I take more pins on or maybe a little bit more aggressive off the tee hitting driver into a place maybe where I wouldn’t necessarily hit it here. I’ve just got to figure out where the miss is in a major.”
Brooks Koepka tees off on the 12th hole during the first round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Valhalla Golf Club….
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