'Embarrassment' of Masters performance could prove key to Koepka winning a sixth Major

Brooks Koepka says the “embarrassment” of his Masters performance last month has seen him go into “overdrive” ahead of his PGA Championship defence next week.

After finishing in a share of second at Augusta National in 2023, Koepka was tipped by many to have another strong week at the Masters Tournament, but the American struggled and had his worst week at the tournament, other than missing the cut in 2022.

The five-time Major champion carded rounds of 73-73-76-75 to finish in tied 45th on nine over par – four shots higher than his previous worse score.

While Koepka was no doubt disappointed with his golf that week, he revealed it has been a catalyst for getting his game into shape ahead of the second Major Championship of the season at Valhalla Golf Club.

“Look, I think the embarrassment of Augusta really kicked things into overdrive for me in terms of having to put my nose down and grind a little bit harder,” said Koepka.

“Having to look my team in the eyes and apologise and not looking to do that again.”

Koepka has not needed to apologise since the year’s first Major.

Two weeks after the trip down Magnolia Lane, he finished inside the top ten at LIV Golf Adelaide before becoming the first LIV Golf player to win four events on the circuit with victory in Singapore last weekend.

With the return of the form that saw him win last year’s PGA Championship, Koepka will head into next week’s edition full of confidence as he looks to secure a sixth Major Championship title, which would see him draw level with Phil Mickelson, Nick Faldo and Arnold Palmer.

The nine-time PGA Tour winner has gone back-to-back twice in Majors before, winning the 2017 and 2018 U.S. Open before repeating the feat at the PGA Championship in 2018 and 2019.

To win one Major is hard enough, but to go back-to-back twice is virtually unheard of, so what exactly does give Koepka the edge in the game’s biggest events?

“I think iron play is a huge part of that,” he said.

“I think I'm a good ball striker. I'm pretty good inside eight feet I feel like. Normally when there's a clutch putt, I feel like I do make it, but I think the big thing that kind of separates me is my ability to lock in and go someplace where I think a lot of guys can't go.”

If he is to go back-to-back for a third time, Koepka will need to be locked in like he has never been before to topple the overwhelming favourite, Scottie Scheffler.

The World No.1 has been in imperious form of late, winning four of his last five starts, including a second Masters Tournament triumph.

But if you were going to pick any golfer to go toe-to-toe with Scheffler in a Major Championship, you’d back Koepka to give him a good fight.

The PGA Championship gets underway at Valhalla Golf Club on May 16.