Brooks Koepka - © Christian Petersen / PGA Tour

At the bottom of an 18-month struggle with left knee and hip problems, Brooks Koepka wondered if he would ever return to his best, let alone regain the magic that had led him to win four tournaments. major.

"It's been hard for a year and a half and very frustrating", Brooks Koepka said. “I had times where I wasn't sure if I was going to be the same, if I could even come back. "

The ex-world number one was in better shape than ever during last Sunday's Waste Management Phoenix Open return nine, rallying to a victory that didn't seem possible not so long ago.

"I went through this ordeal mentally"Brooks Koepka said. “I think that's probably the hardest thing, where you don't know if you'll ever be the same competitor you were. You go through some really dark states, and it's no fun. "

It was a sunny and fun Sunday in the desert, especially on the 17th hole. It was there that he chipped 29 meters for his second eagle of the day, to tie for the top of the standings. A routine par at the 18th hole gave him a victory by one stroke.

The crowd was a fraction of the usual size but was the largest on the circuit since the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I missed the fans"Brooks Koepka said. “Just being surrounded by fans is something else. I love that. I've played my best golf with fans so just need to find something when they're not around. "

After missing three cuts in a row, Koepka bounced off a bogey on 2 with a 7-yard putt on 3 par-5 and birdies on 13-15.

"I live for those moments when you have to conclude, you have to hit quality shots, quality putts"Brooks Koepka said. “I just like to show off, I guess. " 

Sc Chaudele birdied the 18 par-4 for a score of 71, which places him tied with Kyoung-Hoon Lee (68). ScHotele finished second last week at Torrey Pines.

"It was a good day to learn from some mistakes"said Schauffele.

Lee birdied on the 17 to get closer to Brooks Koepka, but he entered the rough at 18 a par-4 and slid his birdie attempt to the side from 10 yards.

Steve Stricker, the 53-year-old U.S. Ryder Cup captain who was trying to become the oldest winner on the PGA TOUR, finished with a 67 for fourth place, tied with Spieth (72) and Carlos Ortiz (64) in 17 under s.

" It was very fun ", Stricker said. “This is the reason why I come to play. I haven't shown this in the past, but I've been playing better lately. I also feel a little better physically. "

James Hahn, three strokes ahead in the middle of the round, bogeyed four of the last eight holes for a 69. He was 10th at 15 under par.

To consult the Waste Management Phoenix Open leaderboard: click here

To read our last article on the same subject :

Waste Management 2021: the highlights of the 1st round