GOLF: Brooks Koepka relishes return 'home' for Cognizant Classic

Brooks Koepka is looking to regain his form at a familiar venue this week as he tees off at the Cognizant Classic in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

The five-time major champion and nine-time PGA Tour winner has struggled in his return to the tour, finishing tied for 56th at the Farmers Insurance Open and missing the cut at the WM Phoenix Open. As a result, Koepka has slipped to 263rd in the Official World Golf Ranking.

Despite the recent setbacks, Koepka remains optimistic about his game.

"Yeah, I feel really good," he said on Wednesday. "I think the first week was just a matter of getting out and going to play. Phoenix just kind of exposed some stuff I need to work on. I was back at it Saturday night, took Sunday off, and have been grinding since Monday.

"But it feels really good. I'm excited. I know that it's progressing very, very nicely, and I just want to put myself in contention here a few times before Augusta and see where everything lies."

The 35-year-old will make his eighth start at this tournament, his first since finishing tied for 16th in 2022. Being a West Palm Beach native, Koepka has fond memories of attending the event during his youth.

"Yeah, I mean, growing up here, I came every year. I remember carrying the sign from probably when I was 9 or 10 years old until maybe a junior or senior in high school," he said.

"It's always good memories. I remember when it was at Mirasol. It was always a lot of fun getting up close to the guys, seeing everything, and then obviously being able to play in it is special. My whole family and friends get to come out and see, and they're not able to all the time. It's a nice event. It's definitely weird staying at home. You just get so accustomed to living out of a suitcase or hotel or whatever. But it's enjoyable. It's nice to come back and just feel your own comforts when you get home."

Koepka hopes to feel even more confident as he adapts to using his mallet putter.

"I didn't know exactly where I was hitting it, and obviously when you change putters, speed becomes another thing, and I felt like the speed was slightly off," he said. "Now I understand exactly where to hit it and where it's going. I feel like my speed control has gotten better, and just with a few changes, tidying those things up, it’s coming together."

The Cognizant Classic marks an important opportunity for Koepka to sharpen his game ahead of the season’s majors.

-Field Level Media/Reuters