Brooks Koepka is looking for his third consecutive win at the PGA Championship this week, which would cap an impressive stretch at major championships for him over the past two years.
This time around, however, the situation is vastly different.
Not only does this years event at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco mark the first major championship of the season a result of the COVID-19 pandemic but Koepka has been battling back from a persistent knee injury that hasnt improved much at all.
While its been a long time coming, Koepka said on Tuesday that he feels his game is finally in a good place something he proved to himself last week at the World Golf Championships-FedEx St. Jude Invitational.
My game feels like its in really, really good shape right now, Koepka said. I like the way Im hitting it Every day is a lot more comfortable. Im excited. This is a big boy golf course. Have to hit the ball straight. Got to put it in the fairway. Its going to play long. I think it kind of plays into my hands.
Koepka underwent a stem cell treatment to repair a partially torn patella tendon in his left knee right after the Tour Championship last season, though he re-tore the tendon a few months later in October after slipping on wet concrete at The CJ Cup in South Korea.
He has tried to play through it since play resumed, though has complained about his knee several times. At one point last month, he even said that nothing had improved at all since October. Koepka has long been against sitting out of the season or undergoing treatment now, however, rather opting to attempt to make a late season push.
I got frustrated. I think anybody would, Koepka said. Nobody likes playing bad. But at the same time, I knew it was only a couple swings away.
That push finally seemed to come to fruition last week in TPC Southwind.
After a pair of missed cuts and two finishes outside the top-30 since play resumed in June, Koepka was in position to win throughout the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational and finished in a tie for second his best finish of the year. His performance jumped him 59 spots in the FedExCup standings, too, more than enough to get him in the field for the first FedExCup Playoffs event.
Just to be in contention I thought was nice I feel great, he said. I think it was more about getting in contention again and just having those feelings back, which felt good.
With that under his belt, Koepka finally feels like hes peaking at just about the right time.
I felt like I was playing a little bit better, wasnt seeing the results, but piece by piece it was coming, Koepka said. I knew it was eventually going to be there. As far as confidence, I got frustrated. I think anybody would. Nobody likes playing bad.
But at the same time, I knew it was only a couple swings away. Once I got the feeling, Id be off and running, and here we are.
Brooks Koepka looks over a putt on the 17th green during the final round of the World Golf Championship-FedEx St. Jude Invitational at TPC Southwind on August 02, 2020. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Koepka will tee off with Shane Lowry and Gary Woodland for the first two rounds this week. Though he may not like to admit it, a win for him in San Francisco would be historic.
Its been 64 years since someone has won a major championship three years in a row and only Walter Hagan has done so at the PGA Championship. Koepka nearly pulled off the feat at the U.S. Open last year, too, but finished just behind Woodland in second at Pebble Beach.
That experience, he said, has relieved any worry of winning three in a row.
And after the year hes had, Koepka said he isnt stressed headed into Thursdays opening round.
I dont put any expectations on myself, just go out and go play golf exactly like I know how, he said. If I do that, then yeah, I probably should win.
More from Yahoo Sports:
- SIRA: Could Stem Cell Therapy Renew Your Body Cells? - Private ... [Last Updated On: April 23rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: April 23rd, 2011]
- Stem Cell Series: Part 1 [Last Updated On: August 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 4th, 2011]
- Huntington's Disease: Stem Cell Treatment Strategies at UC Davis [Last Updated On: August 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 4th, 2011]
- Tianjin heart hospital the largest in Asia with stem cell treatment as well.mp4 [Last Updated On: August 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 4th, 2011]
- Researchers hope stem cell treatment can improve heart healing [Last Updated On: August 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 4th, 2011]
- Testimonial for Fetal Stem Cell Treatment of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy [Last Updated On: August 5th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 5th, 2011]
- MS Views and News Podcast - Stem Cell Treatment [Last Updated On: August 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 6th, 2011]
- Duchenne's Muscular Dystrophy Stem Cell Treatment - Reelabs India [Last Updated On: August 7th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 7th, 2011]
- Stem cell treatment for Macular Degeneration - Graham Leach [Last Updated On: August 7th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 7th, 2011]
- The New World of Medicine: Stem Cell Therapy [Last Updated On: August 8th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 8th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Treatment for Cerebral Palsy (Periventricular Leukomalacia) [Last Updated On: August 8th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 8th, 2011]
- Medra Inc - Breakthrough Stem Cell Treatment [Last Updated On: August 9th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 9th, 2011]
- Patricia VS Autism: Adult Stem Cell Treatment Part 1 [Last Updated On: August 10th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 10th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Treatment for Multiple Sclerosis - Community Outreach San Diego: Xenia C. [Last Updated On: August 10th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 10th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Treatment for Cerebral Palsy at the XCell-Center in Germany [Last Updated On: August 11th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 11th, 2011]
- Bone Marrow Aspiration - Stem Cell Therapy [Last Updated On: August 13th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 13th, 2011]
- Dr. William Rader - Breakthrough Stem Cell Treatment [Last Updated On: August 13th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 13th, 2011]
- Clinical Advances in Adult Stem Cell Therapy - Dr. Jorge Paz Rodriguez (Miami) [Last Updated On: August 14th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 14th, 2011]
- Stem cell treatment on horse a success, vet says [Last Updated On: August 15th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 15th, 2011]
- Patricia VS Autism: Adult Stem Cell Treatment Part 2 [Last Updated On: August 15th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 15th, 2011]
- Adult Stem Cell Therapy Clinical Advances - Dr. Jorge Paz in San Diego, CA March 2011 [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 17th, 2011]
- Dr. Ulrich Friedrichson, Geneticist, and Stem Cell Therapy pioneer [Last Updated On: August 19th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 19th, 2011]
- Bone Marrow Stem Cells/Gene Therapy [Last Updated On: August 19th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 19th, 2011]
- Regenerative Medicine With Stem Cell Therapy Injections at an Arizona pain clinic (602) 507-6550 [Last Updated On: August 19th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 19th, 2011]
- Diabetes - Stem Cell Treatment [Last Updated On: August 21st, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 21st, 2011]
- Stem Cell Treatments for Autism: Community Outreach Miami, Florida - Juliana Ubinas [Last Updated On: August 22nd, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 22nd, 2011]
- Post Stem Cell Therapy Testimony of Cerebral Palsy [Last Updated On: August 26th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 26th, 2011]
- VetCell's StemRegen - the original and best stem cell therapy for equine tendon injuries [Last Updated On: August 26th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 26th, 2011]
- Stem cell treatment cures blind girl. More at http://www.stemcellfusion.com [Last Updated On: August 30th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 30th, 2011]
- ALS Patient Interview, Stem Cell Treatments and ALS www.stemcellregenmed.com [Last Updated On: September 1st, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 1st, 2011]
- Stem Cell Treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis - "I got my life back" [Last Updated On: September 1st, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 1st, 2011]
- Stem Cell Treatment for Autism: Community Outreach Miami, Florida - May 2011 [Last Updated On: September 2nd, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 2nd, 2011]
- Rylea returns home after stem cell treatment in China [Last Updated On: September 3rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 3rd, 2011]
- Stem Cell Treatments and ALS - www.StemCellRegenMed.com [Last Updated On: September 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 4th, 2011]
- Patient with ALS Receiving Stem Cell Treatment - www.StemCellRegenMed.com [Last Updated On: September 5th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 5th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Therapy Success [Last Updated On: September 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 6th, 2011]
- Lisa Ray Opens Up About Her Stem Cell Treatment Experience [Last Updated On: September 17th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 17th, 2011]
- Repair Your Joint Injuries With Stem Cell Therapy | Los Angeles | Beverly Hills | Hollywood [Last Updated On: September 18th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 18th, 2011]
- What could stem cell therapy do for Peyton? [Last Updated On: September 21st, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 21st, 2011]
- Peyton Manning Stem Cell Therapy: Some Doctors Cry Foul Over European Treatment [Last Updated On: September 22nd, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 22nd, 2011]
- Adickes: Stem cell therapy [Last Updated On: September 27th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 27th, 2011]
- Webinar 1, Stem cell therapy basics, what is available today? [Last Updated On: September 30th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 30th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Treatment for Leukemia at UCH [Last Updated On: October 5th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 5th, 2011]
- Testimonial 4 of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy after Stem Cell Therapy [Last Updated On: October 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 6th, 2011]
- The Spinal Cord Journey - Stem cell therapy stories from three spinal cord injury patients [Last Updated On: October 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 6th, 2011]
- Parkinson Stem Cell Treatment [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2011]
- " Embryonic" and "Adult" Stem Cell Research explained by David Kupelian [Last Updated On: October 11th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 11th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Treatment for Heart Failure [Last Updated On: October 12th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 12th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Therapy for Sickle Cell Anemia - Video [Last Updated On: October 14th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 14th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Therapy Skin Repair and Anti-Wrinkle Cream - Video [Last Updated On: October 14th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 14th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Treatment for Multiple Sclerosis - Community Outreach, San Diego: David Oliver - Video [Last Updated On: October 15th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 15th, 2011]
- Spinal Cord Injury Patient after Stem Cell Treatment - Juan Carlos Murillo - Video [Last Updated On: October 16th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 16th, 2011]
- Macular degeneration - Stem Cell therapy (English subtitles) - Video [Last Updated On: October 18th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 18th, 2011]
- stem cell research - Video [Last Updated On: October 18th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 18th, 2011]
- Diabetes- Stem cell therapy (english) - Video [Last Updated On: October 19th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 19th, 2011]
- First Spinal-Cord Surgery With Stem Cells - Video [Last Updated On: October 21st, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 21st, 2011]
- The Skin Gun - Video [Last Updated On: October 23rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 23rd, 2011]
- Heart Congestion Failure- stem cell therapy (english) - Video [Last Updated On: October 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 24th, 2011]
- Improvement seen in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy after Stem Cell Therapy - Video [Last Updated On: October 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 24th, 2011]
- Joseph, Friedreich's Ataxia, before stem cell treatment at Tiantan Puhua Hospital Beijing - Video [Last Updated On: October 25th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 25th, 2011]
- Ataxia - Stem Cell Treatment TV Special (Part 1) - Video [Last Updated On: October 25th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 25th, 2011]
- COPD and Stem Cell Treatments - www.StemCellRegenMed.com - Video [Last Updated On: October 26th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 26th, 2011]
- Rheumatoid Arthritis Stem Cell Treatment - Video [Last Updated On: October 27th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 27th, 2011]
- Stem Cells Repair Joint Cartilage - Video [Last Updated On: October 27th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 27th, 2011]
- Soon stem cell cure for hearing loss - Video [Last Updated On: October 27th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 27th, 2011]
- Extra: The Promise of Stem Cell Treatment - Video [Last Updated On: October 28th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 28th, 2011]
- Batten Disease: Spotlight on Stem Cell Research - A Father's Story - Video [Last Updated On: October 28th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 28th, 2011]
- Stem cell treatment by Adiva Health Care India after Spinal Cord Injury - Video [Last Updated On: October 29th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 29th, 2011]
- Macular Degeneration: Spotlight on Stem Cell Research - Mark Humayun - Video [Last Updated On: October 29th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 29th, 2011]
- Stem Cells to Treat Acne Scarring | Los Angeles | Hollywood | Beverly Hills - Video [Last Updated On: October 30th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 30th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Treatment Kidney Failure - Video [Last Updated On: November 5th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 5th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Miracle From Cord Blood - Video [Last Updated On: November 7th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 7th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Therapy: Psoriatic Arthritis Treatment - Video [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2011]
- Deafness: Spotlight on Stem Cell Research - Karen Doyle - Video [Last Updated On: November 9th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 9th, 2011]
- Daniel Deeter Testimonial for Fetal Stem Cell Treatment at Kyiv, Ukraine - Video [Last Updated On: November 12th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 12th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Treatment Fibromyalgia - Video [Last Updated On: November 13th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 13th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Treatment Kidney Disease - Video [Last Updated On: November 14th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 14th, 2011]
- Heart patient sees results in stem cell study - Video [Last Updated On: November 15th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 15th, 2011]
- Heart health: Patient's own stem cells repaired damage - Video [Last Updated On: November 15th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 15th, 2011]
- StemCellTV Daily Report-November 15, 2011 - Video [Last Updated On: November 16th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 16th, 2011]