GOLF.AI • Mar 2, 2026

Koepka's Thursday Night Turnaround

While the final-round drama at the Cognizant Classic centered on the leaders, Brooks Koepka quietly staged a significant comeback, posting his best PGA Tour finish (T9) since returning from LIV Golf. The performance was a tale of two tournaments, starting with a disastrous opening-round 74 where he took 34 putts.

Everything changed after a crucial Thursday night session. Koepka explicitly credited a "little adjustment" he made to his putting for the dramatic turnaround. Over the final 54 holes, he was a different player, firing a brilliant 13-under-par, capped by a Sunday 65. "That little adjustment Thursday night made a huge difference. Finally found some confidence," Koepka said. He explained that poor putting had forced him to play over-aggressively with his irons, but once the flatstick warmed up, the pressure on the rest of his game dissolved.

Beyond the technical fix, Koepka felt a mental shift. He noted the media frenzy surrounding his return has finally calmed down, allowing him to get back to business. "Now it's just a matter of going to play and build a rhythm," he said. That rhythm was on full display in a fun moment during the final round. Paired with Canadian Ben Silverman for all four days, both men miraculously holed out from the same bunker on the 14th hole. Koepka joked afterward, "I’m sure he’s tired of me now."

This strong finish at PGA National signals that one of golf's most compelling figures is rediscovering his major-championship form just in time for THE PLAYERS and the Masters.