Difficult because it could be to acknowledge, Brooks Koepka shouldn’t be too proud in admitting to “choking” at The Masters final month.
Koepka first used the phrase throughout a Barstool Sports podcast, wherein he stated his motivation was to beat the hosts to the punch by saying he choked first earlier than they’d an opportunity.
The two-time PGA Championship (2018, ’19) and US Open (2017, ’18) winner had a four-shot lead because the weather-delayed third-round resumed, and was up by two in opening the fourth spherical. Koepka then proceeded to shoot a 3-over 75 in shedding to Jon Rahm, and ending tied for second with LIV Golf compatriot Phil Mickelson.
As for whether or not he believes the phrase “choke” applies, Koepka didn’t waver on Wednesday.
“Theoretically, yes, it is. It is choking, right? If you have a lead and cough it up, that’s choking,” Koepka stated, noting he didn’t sleep that Sunday evening whereas reflecting on what occurred.
The time for reflection is lengthy over, he added, by noting three of his main wins have come when main via 54 holes.
“I’m not dwelling on it,” Koepka stated. “I can’t do it every single time. I’m not perfect. As long as I can learn from it, I’ll be better off from it.”
A TALE OF TWO FITZPATRICKS
Reigning US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick believes he’s a totally totally different golfer than the one who made his PGA Championship debut in 2016 with a tie for forty ninth at Baltusrol.
The size on the majors on the PGA and U.S. Open had been an excessive amount of to beat earlier in his profession. He discovered the gap he wanted late in 2020 and final summer season placed on a clinic to win at The Country Club.
While the bodily change was necessary, so was the addition of caddie Billy Foster in 2019. The well-traveled Foster gave Fitzpatrick a wanted increase of confidence, whereas additionally taking him down a notch when obligatory.
“He tells me (I’m) better than probably what I think I am, and also brings me back down to earth if I’m getting ahead of myself,” Fitzpatrick stated. “I think (the) Billy addition was huge.”
STAY IN YOUR LANE
One product of Oak Hill eradicating lots of of timber in the course of the restoration venture was the potential of gamers hitting their drives to the suitable into the seventh fairway to keep away from Allen’s Creek.
Whatever their intentions, it’s now not an possibility. The PGA of America has posted signage {that a} shot from the sixth tee that goes into the seventh fairway can be declared out-of-bounds.
Internal OB is uncommon, however not unprecedented. Royal Portrush had it on the opening gap for the 2019 British Open.
Kerry Haigh, the PGA’s chief championships officer in control of organising the course, stated the identical rule was in impact for the Senior PGA Championship at Oak Hill in 2019.
It wasn’t simply to maintain gamers from not taking part in the outlet the way in which it was meant to be performed. Haigh additionally stated tempo of play was additionally a consideration, that means gamers might need to attend on the opposite fairway to clear.
BIG DADDY
Dustin Johnson blamed his sluggish begin to his season with LIV Golf on a pulled again muscle he tweaked earlier than going to play in Saudi Arabia.
The damage sidelined him for a number of weeks, although he arrived on the East Course coming off a win on the LIV cease in Tulsa final Sunday.
Asked if he was injured lifting one of many two youngsters he has with spouse Paulina, Johnson smiled.
“Yeah, lifting up a kid,” he stated with amusing. “Just a bigger kid.”