Brooks Koepka's return to the PGA TOUR hits a bump as he misses the cut at the WM Phoenix Open, but is this a sign of struggles or a strategic reset?
It's been a busy few days at the WM Phoenix Open, and for Brooks Koepka, the weekend won't involve playing. Despite a change in his putter earlier in the week, Koepka found himself on the wrong side of the cutline in his second event back on the PGA TOUR. While there were glimmers of hope, with Koepka reportedly gaining about a stroke on the greens on Friday – a promising sign that he's getting more comfortable with his new equipment and the nuances of TOUR greens – it wasn't enough to offset the 3.5 strokes he conceded on Thursday.
But here's where it gets interesting: Koepka, a five-time major champion, isn't likely to be dwelling on this missed opportunity. His goal for this West Coast swing was simply to ease back into competition. Having made the cut at the Farmers Insurance Open, a course that hasn't historically been his strongest, can be viewed as a relative success, even by his own high standards.
And this is the part most people miss: Koepka's focus now shifts to the Cognizant Classic, conveniently located near his home in Jupiter, Florida. This suggests a strategic approach to his comeback, prioritizing proximity and comfort as he regains his competitive rhythm.
Meanwhile, other big names are feeling the pressure. Xander Schauffele is once again in a tense wait to see if he'll make the cut. He's currently sitting at 1-under par, and as of early Friday afternoon, the projected cutline was hovering around that number. Schauffele, who recently saw his impressive TOUR-leading streak of consecutive cuts made snapped at the Farmers Insurance Open, put together a strong back-nine 32 on Friday to give himself a fighting chance. He'll be hoping for some help from the afternoon wave, perhaps some challenging desert winds, to boost his chances of starting a new streak.
Collin Morikawa finds himself in a similar predicament, anxiously awaiting the outcome of the afternoon play. His Friday 69 brought him to 1-under par, placing him right on the projected cutline as he seeks to build momentum after a somewhat subdued start to his season.
On the flip side, Si Woo Kim has delivered what's arguably the most impressive round of the tournament so far. A sensational 62 propelled him from 2 over all the way to 7-under par, placing him in a tie for second at the time of writing, even outperforming the hot streak of Hideki Matsuyama.
Other players who have secured their spots for the weekend include Tom Kim (shooting 66 to reach 3 under), Min Woo Lee (with a 65 for 6 under), and Rickie Fowler (a 68 to get to 3 under). They all capitalized on the calmer morning conditions to comfortably move inside the projected cutline.
Now, I'd love to hear your thoughts! Is Koepka's missed cut a sign of deeper putting issues, or is it a calculated step in his return? And for players like Schauffele and Morikawa, how much mental fortitude does it take to constantly battle the cutline? Let me know what you think in the comments below!
