Brooks Koepka never truly found his rhythm on Saturday at the Valspar Championship, and his own diagnosis was as clear as it was blunt.
“I drove it terrible all day. It really cost me.”
Those words summed up a frustrating third round in which Koepka went from briefly flirting with contention to falling well off the pace heading into Sunday.
The American had given himself a chance early. A solid front nine, where he reached three-under for the day, moved him within a couple of shots of the lead and firmly into the mix. But any momentum quickly disappeared on the back nine.
“I felt good early,” he explained. “But I didn’t hit it that great on the back side… I’ve been driving it poorly all week.”
The issue off the tee has become a recurring problem — and one Koepka is still struggling to solve.
“I’ve tried different things… alignment, ball position… but I just can’t quite figure it out right now,” he admitted.
That lack of control left him constantly out of position, forcing him into recovery mode and preventing any real charge. Even when opportunities came, they slipped away — like his long putt on the 15th that looked destined for the hole.
“I thought it was in,” he said. “But it’s hard to make it if you don’t hit it.”
Koepka also took a moment to address an incident involving a fan during the round, making it clear his focus was elsewhere.
“I just felt terrible for her… as long as she’s okay, that’s all that matters.”
With the leaders pulling away, the four-time major champion was realistic about his situation.
“I’m a long ways away… I need a really low one tomorrow.”
There are, however, small signs of encouragement. His putting — an area he has been working on in recent weeks — is starting to show improvement.
“I feel like I’m starting the putts on line… the work I’ve been doing has been solid.”
Still, until he finds answers with the driver, Koepka’s chances of making a late push remain slim.
For now, Saturday leaves him searching — not for the lead, but for the missing piece in his game.
