Players 2026: Brooks Koepka had a simple (and reasonable) explanation for his struggles at TPC Sawgrass

PONTE VEDRA BEACH — Brooks Koepka is the defining big-game player of his generation. The Players Championship is the footnote that complicates that sentence. You could read that as a verdict on the tournament's major-championship credentials, or you could just ask Koepka, who has a simpler explanation for why TPC Sawgrass has been his Kryptonite.

This week marks his first appearance at the Players since 2022, his fourth start since returning to the PGA Tour from LIV Golf. Speaking to the media Tuesday, Koepka didn't need long to explain the problem.

“The 17th hole,” Koepka said, laughing. “I think, I don't know if there's stats on it, but I guarantee there are. One year I made an 8 and a 7. Yeah, that wasn't very good. But that 17th hole has gotten me over the years. I've played good rounds here; that's just kind of the one bugaboo that always gets me.”

Technically, he has not carded an 8, but he has made a few 7s, and had a highlight (lowlight?) at the 2022 Players where Koepka hit into the water twice in the face of 30-mph winds. Over his career he holds a bogey average on the island green.

“There's a couple tee shots, too, I think that are quite tough,” Koepka continued. “Four seems to be quite tough. And then I played the back yesterday and I think … I don't know if it's just I'm getting older and not hitting it as far, but there's a couple holes I swear they have lengthened. Obviously not being here in four years, so it's tough if you're watching on TV to really grasp where it's at. But I think 12 they might have lengthened a little bit. 15 it feels like they did. But, yeah, and 16 it feels like they might have maybe a hair. I don't know, the tee box was way back yesterday. So I don't know, but the 17th hole has got my number.”

In six appearances (not counting the COVID-canceled 2020 event) Koepka’s best finish is a T-11 in 2018, a far cry from his five wins and 18 top-10s in major championships. Still, Koepka asserted the hole isn’t in his head.

“I don't think about it. It doesn't haunt me,” Koepka said. “I mean my friends, they give me a bunch of crap about it. Between 17 [here] and 12 at Augusta, it seems to be the par 3s. But then again, I've hit … I think the last time we played here, I think I hit 5-iron on the hole. It was the year it was blowing like crazy. We stopped I think we were on 16 green. I want to say I was playing with Scottie or maybe Rory, one of the two. Somebody hit 6-iron I think came up short, so I hit 5, then it went over. I mean, it's kind of tough to argue when it's blowing 35.

“But yeah, my friends bust my chops about it pretty good. So I mean, it's all fun and games. Then just got to go out and go do it.”

For what it’s worth, Koepka did hit the green in Monday’s practice round. “Was pretty pumped about that,” Koepka smiled.

Coming off a top-10 finish in his last start, Koepka will go off with Akshay Bhatia and Tony Finau on Thursday at 8:28 a.m.