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Brooks Koepka: 2021 FedEx Cup Contender or Pretender?

By Tim Letcher

PLAYA DEL CARMEN, MEXICO - DECEMBER 03: Brooks Koepka of the United States plays his shot from the 18th tee during the first round of the Mayakoba Golf Classic at El Camaleón Golf Club on December 03, 2020 in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. (Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)
PLAYA DEL CARMEN, MEXICO - DECEMBER 03: Brooks Koepka of the United States plays his shot from the 18th tee during the first round of the Mayakoba Golf Classic at El Camaleón Golf Club on December 03, 2020 in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. (Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images) /
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Brooks Koepka has proven to be one of the best players in the world…when he’s healthy. Is his body ready to allow him to make a run at the FedEx Cup?

With the 2020 portion of the PGA Tour schedule in the books, we at Pro Golf Now will be taking a look at players outside of the current top 50 in the FedEx Cup standings and whether they are contenders or pretenders for the 2021 FedEx Cup. Our latest subject is the current No. 52, Brooks Koepka.

Best career FedEx Cup finish: Koepka has made the playoffs in each of the last six seasons. He has been able to make it to East Lake and the Tour Championship four times. His best finish came in 2019 when, boosted by three PGA Tour wins during the season, he was able to finish third in the final FedEx Cup standings. He was ninth in 2018 and 10th in 2017.

So far this season: Koepka has made three starts so far this season, while still rehabbing an injury from last season. And so far this season, Koepka appears to be healthy.

Koepka was not healthy enough to play in the U.S. Open in September, so he started his year at the CJ Cup at Shadow Creek. He shot 74 in the opening round, followed by 68 on Friday and Saturday. He finished off his week with a 73 on Sunday to finish in a tie for 28th place.

After taking two weeks off, Koepka returned, playing the Houston Open as a tune-up for the Masters the following week. In Houston, Koepka got off to a slow start. He shot 72 on Thursday and 70 on Friday. But on the weekend, he found his game. Koepka shot 65 on Saturday to jump into a tie for 13th place. Then on Sunday, he shot another 65, getting him into a tie for fifth place.

With that kind of momentum, Koepka seemed to be one of the favorites heading into the Masters.

Koepka opened his week at Augusta National with a 70 on Thursday. He came back with a 69 on Friday to sit at 3-under through 36 holes. That left him six shots behind the leaders.

On Saturday, Koepka shot another 69 to get to 6-under. But he trailed Dustin Johnson by six. A 70 on Sunday left Koepka in a tie for seventh place for the week.

His final stop of the 2020 calendar year came at the Mayakoba Golf Classic. There, Koepka shot 71-71 to miss the cut.

The verdict: If healthy, Koepka has proven that he can beat anyone. We’re just not sure he’s completely healthy. Consider him a pretender until he proves otherwise.

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