Brooks Koepka, known as a "major hunter," is aiming for victory at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, returning to the PGA Tour after five years. The tournament, which features a total prize purse of $10.3 million, will take place at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas.
On May 21, during a press conference at the tournament's media center, Koepka stated, "This is my third consecutive week on tour. I like to create momentum and find my rhythm by playing several weeks in a row. It's been a while since I've played this golf course, and I'm looking forward to it. I hope the weather holds up."
The CJ Cup holds fond memories for Koepka. In 2018, while competing at the event in Jeju, he caught a massive 50-centimeter fish off the coast before the tournament. At the press conference, he smiled and said, "I hope the fish brings me good luck," before ultimately lifting the championship trophy.
Reflecting on that experience, Koepka remarked, "I had a great time in Jeju. I won, and it was a really fun journey. I think I enjoyed it from the moment I boarded the plane to Korea. Jeju is a fantastic, beautiful place. I struggled a lot while fishing, only managing to catch one fish, but just being out on the water was a lot of fun."
Koepka also fondly remembers the Korean barbecue he enjoyed after fishing. "About 30 minutes after fishing, I had Korean barbecue, which was really delicious," he said. "Tour life can become repetitive, but experiencing the culture of different countries is always interesting and enjoyable."
Having won five major championships, Koepka transitioned to LIV Golf in 2022 but returned to the PGA Tour this year. However, his ranking dropped to 111th due to his LIV Golf activities, and he currently lacks sufficient points for various PGA Tour events. To secure spots in signature tournaments reserved for top-ranked players, he must accumulate points diligently at each event.
This situation has fueled Koepka's passion. "Every week feels like a new beginning for me. If I get the chance to compete, I want to take it," he said. "More than anything, I’ve really fallen back in love with golf. Competing fiercely on tour and working to improve my game is genuinely enjoyable for me."
Despite being outside the top 100 in the world rankings, Koepka is still considered a strong contender for this tournament. He is ranked fifth in the power rankings released by the PGA Tour, which noted that he has finished in the top 20 in five of his last six tournaments.
In this tournament, Koepka will play the first two rounds alongside world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and Kim Si-woo. He commented, "Scheffler is undoubtedly the best player in the world right now. Many fans will come to support him, and the atmosphere will be very exciting. It will be a great gauge of where my game and my standing are at. I expect it to be a fantastic competition."
The tournament will take place from May 22 to 25. The winner will receive 500 FedEx Cup points, a two-year tour exemption, and eligibility for signature events that year, as well as entry into the next season's Players Championship and major tournaments.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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