Paramus, New Jersey …
Triple Major winning Brooks Koepka is determined to bring his triple Major Championship winning focus into this week’s Northern Trust and the opening event of the lucrative FedEx Cup Play-Off Series in Paramus, New Jersey.
Koepka, 28 is returning to competition for a first occasion since last fortnight’s successful defence of his PGA Championship in St. Louis.
The American is currently ranked No. 3 on the FedEx Cup standings and has the chance not only to move to No. 2 but also from No. 2 on the World Rankings and to No. 1 with success in the $US 9m event being played on the Ridgewood Country Club course.
It is Koepka’s fourth straight appearance in the Northern Trust and in an event that has not been all that kind to also the 2016 U.S. Open winner.
He missed the cut in 2015, finished T70th in 2016 and shared 49th place a year ago.
In the bigger Play-Off Series picture Koepka, and over the past three years, has contested 11 of the 12 events staged finishing a best of sixth in last year’s Tour Championship. He also missed the cut in the opening two Play-Off events of 2015.
“I know my Play-Off record is not very good,” he said. “I don’t need anybody to tell me. I think two years ago, what was it, I think I missed the first two cuts, I believe. And then I just haven’t shown up.
“I don’t know if that’s being a little tired, a little lazy, not the preparation that you really need to put the emphasis on the FedExCup that I should have been.
“Maybe just trying a little bit too hard. I think sometimes that can be a fault, too.”
And after also denying Tiger Woods victory at Bellerive, the pressure is on Koepka’s shoulders to perform at a non-Majors level given four of his PGA Tour victories are Major Championship titles.
“I’m trying to be better about making sure that every PGA Tour event that I am as focused as I am the majors,” he added.
“And I probably haven’t done the best job at that. Being conservatively aggressive in certain opportunities and getting over things probably looks like I could care less but sometimes I do run hot and I can be excited.
“I just won’t show it to anybody because I don’t think — I don’t want anybody to know.”
In contrast, Justin Thomas, and currently No. 2 on the FedEx Cup points table, wants it known will be the key to the 25-year olf capturing a third Tour victory this week.
“If I have an opportunity to be in bed at 8am this week, I’m going to do it,” he said.
“I would love to be asleep by about 8.15 tonight. I don’t know if it’s possible or not but rest is going to be important this week.
“It sounds weird, but that two hours of extra sleep this week could make a big difference given the early tee times.”
However, Koepka, Thomas and 117 others including Tiger Woods, will be chasing one person and that’s both the World and current FedEx Cup No. 1, Dustin Johnson and also defending Northern Trust champion.
And there would nothing delight ‘DJ’ more to end the season early next month in Atlanta, and for a first occasion in his career, as PGA Tour No. 1.
“To lift that trophy in Atlanta would be definitely a big accomplishment,” he said.
“It’s something that I really would like to win. To be the FedEx Cup champion means obviously you played really well in the playoffs but you also had a great year, too.
“So, it’s something that it’s definitely on my list of accomplishments that I would love to achieve.”
