Koepka Rallies for Top-10 Finish in Best Performance Since Tour Return
Palm Beach Gardens, Sunday, 1 March 2026.
Rebounding from a slow start, Koepka delivered a 6-under 65 Sunday, marking his strongest performance since rejoining the PGA Tour. A crucial adjustment on the greens fueled this confidence-boosting top-10 finish.
Sunday Resurgence at PGA National
Brooks Koepka posted a final-round 65 at PGA National on Sunday, securing a top-10 finish with a total score of 10-under par [1][3]. This result represents his best finish since returning to the PGA Tour earlier this year [1]. The performance was a significant turnaround from his opening round on Thursday, February 26, where he struggled to a 3-over 74 [1]. By climbing the leaderboard to tie for 9th place, Koepka demonstrated resilience on the challenging Champion Course, capitalizing on favorable scoring conditions to close the gap on the leaders [3].
Precision on the Greens
The catalyst for this resurgence was a critical improvement on the greens. After requiring 34 putts during his opening round, Koepka made a slight adjustment Thursday night that paid immediate dividends, needing only 27 putts in each of the subsequent three rounds [2]. He finished the week ranked 15th in Strokes Gained: Putting, a marked improvement for the five-time major champion who noted that seeing putts drop allowed him to build necessary rhythm and momentum [2]. This statistical correction was vital, as he had previously lost over seven shots on the greens at the Farmers Insurance Open and over three shots during his early exit in Phoenix [1].
Strategic Adjustments and Mental Clarity
Koepka admitted that his previous struggles on the greens had placed undue pressure on his iron play and driving, forcing him to be overly aggressive off the tee [1][2]. “Because I wasn’t making any putts, I felt like I had to hit it to tap-in range,” Koepka explained regarding his mindset prior to the adjustment [2]. The Sunday effort, which included a 6-under 65, tied for the best Strokes Gained: Total performance of the final day, signaling a return of confidence for the West Palm Beach native playing in his hometown event [1]. This finish is particularly notable as it marks his first top-10 result in a non-major stroke-play tournament since the 2022 WM Phoenix Open [1].
Scheduling the Road Ahead
Looking forward, Koepka’s schedule remains disciplined as he navigates his return season. He is not eligible for the upcoming Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill next week as part of his return agreement [2]. Instead, he plans to participate in the Seminole Member-Guest on March 2 before preparing for THE PLAYERS Championship [2]. He intends to arrive at TPC Sawgrass around midday on Monday, March 9, aiming to improve upon his previous best finish there—a tie for 11th in 2018 [1]. After a missed cut at the WM Phoenix Open and a tie for 56th at the Farmers Insurance Open, this week’s performance suggests his game is stabilizing just in time for the season’s flagship events [1].