Brooks Koepka says personal life improving as PGA Championship begins well
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Brooks Koepka has had a good start in the PGA Championship and every cut he has made has resulted in a top-20 finish this season.
The five-time major winner returned to the PGA Tour this season after four years with LIV Golf and was one of 33 players to break 70 in the first round Thursday at Aronimink Golf Club outside Philadelphia.
It was an uphill battle for Koepka last year as he missed the cut in three of the four majors and finished 31st in the individual LIV rankings.
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Brooks Koepka reacts after hitting his putt to the 14th green during the first round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania on May 14, 2026. (James Lang/Imagn Images)
But it was an uphill battle, especially with his wife Jena Sims, who suffered a miscarriage when she was 16 weeks pregnant.
Speaking after his first round on Thursday, Koepka admitted that “a lot of family issues” last year had “taken a toll” on him and affected his playing.
“It was kind of hard to deal with,” Koepka said. New York Post.
But the hosts are in a “much better place” and that matches their impressive early scores.
“It’s easier to get out to work when everything is lined up at home. Everything is so much better. Last year was personally tough with everything going on off the golf course, there was nothing to do. It was just getting started,” Koepka continued.
Brooks Koepka tees off on the tenth hole during the first round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, on May 14, 2026. (Bill Streicher/Imagn Images)
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“So yeah, just being in a better place. It’s exciting. It’s also a bit of a fresh start. I think that’s a big part of it. Yeah, all these rankings together make it fun to be here.”
“It’s been a long time since I’ve had fun playing golf,” Koepka said. “I was very disappointed last year. I wasn’t in a good place, but I think most of the time you’re just like everybody else, right? If they’re happy on the golf course, they’re going to play well on the golf course. I think that’s a very, very big piece and I found that.” said Koepka. golf.com last week.
“I found my happiness again, my love for the game. All the pieces are connected. Now I need to go out and play.”
Koepka is currently aiming for his fourth PGA Championship victory, having also won in 2018, 2019 and 2023. He will join Walter Hagen, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods as four-time winners of the event.
Brooks Koepka walks to the 18th green during the first round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, on May 14, 2026. (Ben Jared/PGA Tour)
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Koepka struggled in his early return to the PGA Tour, finishing T55 at the Farmers Insurance Open and missing the cut at the Waste Management Open. But since then, their finishes have ranged from T9 to T18 despite two other missed cuts.
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