The PGA TOUR's West Coast Swing: A Tale of Ups and Downs
In a thrilling twist of events, Brooks Koepka, the five-time major champion, found himself on the outside looking in at the WM Phoenix Open. Despite a promising putter switch earlier in the week, Koepka's journey at this tournament came to an unexpected end after missing the cut on Friday.
But here's where it gets intriguing: Koepka's putting game showed signs of life on Friday, gaining him a stroke and potentially signaling a comfortable transition to new equipment. However, the damage from Thursday's opening round, where he lost 3.5 strokes, proved too much to overcome.
And this is the part most people miss: Koepka's focus was never solely on the win. He approached this West Coast Swing as a re-entry into the TOUR, a chance to dip his toes back in. Even with his high standards, making the cut at the Farmers, a venue not known for his dominance, can be seen as a relative success.
Now, Koepka shifts his attention to the Cognizant Classic, a tournament closer to home in The Palm Beaches, Florida. It's a fresh start for the champion.
Meanwhile, the cutline drama continues. Xander Schauffele, who lost his TOUR-leading cuts-made streak last week, finds himself on the edge once more. A strong back-nine performance on Friday gives him a fighting chance, but he'll need some afternoon magic and perhaps a touch of desert wind to extend his streak.
Collin Morikawa faces a similar predicament, waiting to see if his Friday round of 69 will be enough to keep him in the game. He's searching for that elusive positive momentum after a modest start to the season.
On a brighter note, Si Woo Kim stole the show with a remarkable 62, rocketing him from 2 over to a stunning 7-under par. His performance surpassed even the red-hot Hideki Matsuyama, solidifying his position as T2 at the time of writing.
Other notable players securing their weekend spots include Tom Kim, Min Woo Lee, and Rickie Fowler, all taking advantage of the calmer morning conditions to safely navigate the projected cutline.
The WM Phoenix Open continues to deliver excitement and surprises, leaving us with one burning question: Who will emerge as the champion, and what twists and turns will the tournament take next?
