Brooks Koepka is determined to push himself harder at the 2026 Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches, despite just making the cut. The five-time major champion, playing in his hometown event for the first time since 2022, struggled with a 74 in the opening round but bounced back with a stellar 66 in Round 2 to finish at two under par through 36 holes.
Even though Koepka managed to secure a spot for the weekend, he expressed his dissatisfaction with his current form. He emphasized that he is not content with just making cuts and expects more from himself on the course. Koepka acknowledged that his putting needs to improve but is pleased with his ball-striking, noting that it was encouraging to see a red number on his scorecard.
This performance marks an improvement for Koepka compared to his previous two starts on the PGA Tour, where he finished T56 at the Farmers Insurance Open and missed the cut at the WM Phoenix Open. Ranked No. 263 in the world, Koepka is still in the process of regaining his top form and is working towards climbing back up the rankings.
Before the tournament began, Koepka highlighted the changes to the PGA National course, noting that it has become softer compared to previous years. He mentioned that the overseeding of the course has made chipping around the greens easier, as the rough is not as thick and unpredictable as before. Despite his strong performance in strokes gained around the green leading up to the event, Koepka’s numbers after two rounds show a mixed bag of results.
While he has performed well off the tee and on approach, Koepka has struggled around the greens and is looking to improve in that aspect. His putting has been solid, and he is currently tied for 31st with 2.425 strokes gained total. With room for improvement in certain areas of his game, Koepka will be looking to make a push up the leaderboard in the remaining rounds of the tournament.
In conclusion, Brooks Koepka’s performance at the 2026 Cognizant Classic showcases his determination to excel and push himself to higher standards. As he continues to work on his game and strive for better results, Koepka remains focused on regaining his top form and climbing back up the world rankings. With a strong showing in Round 2, he will be looking to build on that momentum and make a statement in the upcoming rounds of the tournament.
This article was edited by Sonali Verma.
