THE CJ CUP BYRON NELSON

May 21, 2026

Brooks Koepka

TPC Craig Ranch

Quick Quotes

Q. Brooks, 8-under 63 to start, bogey-free. Probably the best round you've had this year. Do you agree?

BROOKS KOEPKA: Yeah, yeah, I would say so.

Q. How you would assess it? Just talk about that round a little bit and the feelings you had when you were out there doing it.

BROOKS KOEPKA: Yeah, that was nice. I think -- we were just talking about it over here in one of the interviews. It was just a comfortable group as well. Everyone is just kind of feeding off each other, easy. Everyone's having fun. Makes it enjoyable. I feel comfortable on the golf course as well.

Finally, I felt good with the putter. I felt good the last few days with it when I was working in my studio. Then when I got here, it felt very comfortable. Rick said the same thing from watching. Which also kind of helps build a little confidence, what you feel versus the reality of it. Just happy with the way everything went today.

Q. Can you just talk us through your thought process when you get to the final hole. It's No. 9, it's a par-5, you're 8-under par. What's going through your mind there and the way that you ended up playing the hole?

BROOKS KOEPKA: It's actually a tough tee shot. I think the wind's just off the left right now, little down and off the left. So it kind of brings that bunker in, so you've got to kind of cheat it.

I thought I hit a good enough drive. It's kind of one of those ones where, if you mis-hit it kind of like Scottie did, kind of heel it, you stay short of that bunker. I just hit a good one and it faded five yards too much. I'm not going to complain about it. It was a good drive.

From there it's just a layup. Then probably got a little too aggressive with the third shot trying to go at it. Made a good up-and-down though. It just kind of saved the round. Bogey-free is always a big confidence booster.

Q. You haven't played this place since 2021. What would you say are the most striking differences now that you got a chance to play this version of it?

BROOKS KOEPKA: The greens are totally different than when we played. That's obviously the biggest thing. Off the tee it looks pretty good. Place hasn't changed too much. It's familiar. I like it. I feel comfortable on it.

Q. You got a peek at the greens when you were getting ready, but with your tournament assessment, what's your assessment on the greens today?

BROOKS KOEPKA: I only played the front in the Pro-Am yesterday. I didn't see the back. Today was the first time I've seen the back.

I thought they were a little more undulating than I anticipated, a lot more movement going on. There's places to hit it, places to miss it. If you're in the right spot, you can bring it in towards the hole or work it away from the slopes.

Q. Fair test?

BROOKS KOEPKA: Yeah, I think it's good.

Q. A good start for today. If you win this tournament this week, it will be your second one at the CJ CUP. How would be something special for you if you have another win at the CJ CUP?

BROOKS KOEPKA: Yeah, it would be fantastic. I feel like it's a long ways away right now, but yeah, it would be great. I think, when I won it the last time, I got back to No. 1 in the world. I think there's such a huge difference right now of trying to get into Signature Events, trying to -- on my way back, coming back to the TOUR.

It would be a big confidence boost for sure because I feel like I've been playing well, the results just haven't been there, mainly because of the putter, but I feel like I'm knocking on the door, and I'm very, very close. I would love to have a chance come Sunday.