Brooks Koepka's Putting Woes Continue At Cognizant Classic

Brooks Koepka is still struggling to get a tune out of his new putter as he made a horror start to the Cognizant Classic that leaves him struggling to make the cut

Paul Higham's avatar
By
published
Brooks Koepka lines up a putt at the Cognizant Classic at PGA National
(Image credit: Getty Images)

There was a lot of talk about PGA National being too easy, but Brooks Koepka didn't see it that way as he struggled in the opening round of the Cognizant Classic.

A three-over round of 74 sees Koepka now struggling to make the cut at the Cognizant Classic, with three bogeys and a shocker of a double bogey during his opening round.

The five-time Major champion's day was summed up by his double bogey on 17, when he overhit a chip right across the green and into the mud on the edge of the lake.

Koepka had to take his shoe and sock off to play an escape from the PGA National mud, but could only fat his effort halfway up the bank, which ultimately resulted in a five on the testing par three.

Koepka wasn't the only one as the final hole of the infamous Bear Trap claimed a few casualties while ranking as the hardest hole on the course in round one - with eight double bogeys or worse and just five birdies all day.

It was symptomatic of Koepka's problems all day, as his struggles increased the closer he got to the hole.

He talked about PGA National being an easier chipping course now that it's been overseeded but really struggled as he ranked 120th in Strokes Gained: Around The Green losing 2.296 strokes to the field.

And he was only slightly better on the greens as he ranked 110th in Strokes Gained there with -2.165 as he continues to try and dial in his new TaylorMade Spider Tour X mallet.

Koepka did make one 36-foot bomb for birdie on the sixth, but missed four birdie chances on his opening four holes between 9-11 feet, followed by a 10 footer for par.

He also missed two further par putts from around five feet so there's obviously still plenty of work for him to do to settle with his new flat stick.

But Koepka may not have too much time as he starts the second round in T98 on three over and in a big battle to try and make the cut.

Paul Higham
Paul Higham
Contributor

Paul Higham is a sports journalist with over 20 years of experience in covering most major sporting events for both Sky Sports and BBC Sport. He is currently freelance and covers the golf majors on the BBC Sport website.  Highlights over the years include covering that epic Monday finish in the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor and watching Rory McIlroy produce one of the most dominant Major wins at the 2011 US Open at Congressional. He also writes betting previews and still feels strangely proud of backing Danny Willett when he won the Masters in 2016 - Willett also praised his putting stroke during a media event before the Open at Hoylake. Favourite interviews he's conducted have been with McIlroy, Paul McGinley, Thomas Bjorn, Rickie Fowler and the enigma that is Victor Dubuisson. A big fan of watching any golf from any tour, sadly he spends more time writing about golf than playing these days with two young children, and as a big fair weather golfer claims playing in shorts is worth at least five shots. Being from Liverpool he loves the likes of Hoylake, Birkdale and the stretch of tracks along England's Golf Coast, but would say his favourite courses played are Kingsbarns and Portrush. 

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.