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Koepka's Putting Fix Delivers First PGA Tour Top-10 Since Return at Cognizant Classic

A quick hands-forward change with a mallet putter steadied his stroke and rebuilt confidence heading into The Players.

Overview

  • Brooks Koepka rebounded from an opening 74 with rounds of 66, 69 and a closing 6-under 65 to finish tied for ninth at PGA National.
  • He credited a brief post–first round setup tweak that moved his hands forward—paired with a recent switch to a mallet putter—for a surge on the greens.
  • Koepka ranked 15th in strokes gained: putting for the week and needed 27 putts in each of his final three rounds after taking 34 in round one.
  • The result is his first top-10 since rejoining the PGA Tour in January after a T56 at Torrey Pines and a missed cut in Phoenix, and he says life on tour now feels natural again.
  • Under the Returning Member Program, he is not eligible for this week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational, will play the Seminole Member-Guest, and plans to arrive at TPC Sawgrass on Monday, as some analysts speculate his improved form could translate to a win before the Masters.