Brooks Koepka, a three-time USPGA champion, is coached by Peter Cowen and is leading the USPGA Championship at Valhalla GC with an opening round of four under par 67. At 34 years old, Koepka started off steadily with birdies on holes three and 18, but also had a dropped shot on hole 17. On his second nine, he finished impressively with an eagle, birdie, and par for a back nine of 32. This performance has placed him in tied 12th place, five shots back of the first-round leader Xander Schauffele.
Koepka is known for performing well when he has a point to prove, especially in Major tournaments. After a disappointing finish at the 2024 Masters, where he tied for 45th, he is looking to make a statement at the USPGA Championship. Koepka’s strong performance in the last LIV Golf event in Singapore, where he emerged as the winner, demonstrates his current form and potential to make an impact in the upcoming rounds.
Despite struggling at the start of his round, England’s Matt Fitzpatrick, another player coached by Cowen, bounced back with an eagle on hole seven and three birdies to finish with a 69. Joaquin Niemann had a tougher round with four bogeys on the back nine, resulting in a score of 73. Other golfers, such as Thomas Detry and Thorbjorn Oleson, who also reside in Dubai, had strong opening rounds with scores of 66 and 69 respectively.
The USPGA Championship at Valhalla has seen impressive statistics, with 64 players recording rounds under par on the first day, setting a new championship record. Xander Schauffele also made history by becoming the first player to shoot a 62 in the USPGA Championship. The challenging course, measuring 7,506 yards for a par 71, was described as a ‘beast’ by many players at the start of the tournament. The average round one score for the entire field was 71.29 in a championship that dates back to 1916.
Looking ahead, the weather forecast for the rest of the week predicts cloudy skies with occasional showers and the possibility of thunder, along with moderate winds of 5 – 10 mph. With Koepka and other talented golfers in contention, the USPGA Championship promises to be an exciting and competitive tournament. Tune in for more updates on the performances of these top players as they navigate their way through the challenging Valhalla Golf Club.
