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Brooks Koepka Climbs to T-9 at Cognizant Classic After Putting Fix

A Thursday-night setup tweak plus a recent move to a mallet putter restored his confidence on the greens.

Overview

  • Koepka closed with a 6-under 65 at PGA National to secure his first top-10 since rejoining the PGA Tour.
  • He said moving his hands forward at address after an opening 74, combined with the mallet putter he adopted at Phoenix, unlocked his stroke and confidence.
  • Koepka ranked 15th in Strokes Gained: Putting for the week and cut his putts to 27 in each of the final three rounds after taking 34 on Thursday.
  • Under the PGA Tour’s Returning Member Program, he owes $5 million to designated charities, is barred from player equity for five years, must earn spots in signature events, and is not eligible for this week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational.
  • He plans to play the Seminole Member-Guest before preparing for The Players, while analyst Smylie Kaufman predicts he could contend for a win before the Masters.