GOLF.AI • Feb 2, 2026

Koepka's Putter Betrays His Power

While fans at Torrey Pines lauded Brooks Koepka's physical presence, describing him as "jacked" and "a tank," his performance on the greens told a different story. The five-time major champion's powerful physique was no match for a cold putter during his return to the PGA Tour at the Farmers Insurance Open.

The disconnect was glaring during a disastrous third round. Koepka suffered major lapses on short putts, turning a simple 3-foot par attempt into a double bogey on the 11th hole and a 3-foot birdie putt into a bogey on the 9th. These struggles were reflected in the grim statistics: he ranked last in the field for Strokes Gained: Putting (-2.41) among all players who made the cut and lost nearly five and a half strokes to the field on the greens in the third round alone.

In response, Koepka took drastic measures, engaging in a four-hour emergency practice session at the Scotty Cameron Studio to rework his setup. "You just miss a few and you've got zero confidence," Koepka admitted, a rare moment of vulnerability from the typically stoic competitor. "I'm just going to chalk it up to just a bad day, but I'm happy with everything else."

Despite his efforts, Koepka finished T56, placing immense pressure on his next start. He now heads to the WM Phoenix Open, a venue where he has won twice, knowing that a victory is his only path to qualify for the upcoming Signature Events at Pebble Beach and Riviera.