Brooks Koepka is first on the leaderboard of a major tournament after one round. An almost banal phrase in the period 2017-2021, when the American won two US Open and two USPGA. Four Grand Slams to which we will add seven top 7s at this level, including three in the 2021 season. What happened next? A start on the LIV last year and no major top 50. An air pocket that the colossus of Palm Beach will explain by the long convalescence of a broken knee, following a domestic accident a little over two years ago.
Koepka’s account of this “rupture of the median femoro-patellar ligament”, in the wake of a first round in 65 in Augusta: ” I dislocated my knee and then tried to put it back in place and that’s when I broke my kneecap and tore my anterior cruciate ligament. »
The sequel is thrilling and downright reminiscent of Mel Gibson, in homemade shoulder replacement mode in Lethal Weapon: “My leg was sideways and out. My foot was turned out and when I put it back on it was fine as the ball joint had already broken. As a result, it was much easier to put it all back together (smile) ! »
A body finally ready for combat
After a victory over LIV in Orlando on Sunday and Thursday’s tour de force in Georgia, Koepka has regained much of his scarecrow costume in the Majors in less than a week. A role he hasn’t forgotten, just that it took him time to fully recover from his winter 2021 injury.” It’s an operation (a suture of the meniscus, in particular) which, according to my surgeon, has never been done before. According to the medical profession, it takes 18 months to fully recover and besides, I have only been able to fully bend this knee since the end of last year…”
Still forced into long daily treatments in the company of his physical trainer and his physiotherapist, the co-leader of the Masters even has to apply cold three times a day. Nothing comparable to what Tiger Woods has been going through for two years: “ My injury is obviously much less serious than his.explained Koepka. And (au Masters 2021) the downward slopes were painful to walk, I don’t have to worry about that anymore. »
Meatball from the caddy to the 15
In great physical shape and with confidence “which is gradually returning to where it should be” in his words, Brooks Koepka is on a straight road to great performances on this Grand Slam and the three others to come (USPGA in May, US Open in June, then the British Open in July.) Thursday in Augusta, only a drive sausage at 13 (bogey) and above all a nasty rule ball from his caddy was able to slow down his resurgence.
On the 15th fairway, his caddy seems to have given the information of the club used to Gary Woodland’s co-driver. A common practice between players and caddies, but prohibited. This time, despite the obviousness of the video, Koepka gets away with it without cost, playing on the absence of formal proof to avoid the two penalty points: “(Woodland and his caddy) had no idea what club I hit. I know because Gary asked me next, on his way down to the 15th green. That’s all I have to say about it. »
The Masters committee closed the case on Thursday without further action and it is indeed a 65 (-7) which is counted. Without qualms and a arrogance worthy of his heyday, nothing shakes this quadruple Grand Slam winner. Which is scary again.
