Brooks Koepka back but says knee still not 100%

Brooks Koepka returns this week to the site of one of his bigger disappointments, but he couldn’t be happier to be at TPC Craig Ranch in Dallas. “It’s just nice to be back playing, to be honest with you,” he said.

Koepka suffered a right kneecap dislocation and ligament damage that forced him to withdraw from The Players Championship on March 7 and have surgery. He returned to play at the Masters, which he deemed “very satisfying” just to get back, but wasn’t himself. “I don’t enjoy missing cuts,” he said.

With the PGA Championship, a major he’s won twice ( in 2018 and 2019), just a week away, Koepka said an additional month of rehab has helped but made it clear that he’s still not 100%.

“I still can’t squat down, get into a catcher’s position or fully bend down,” he said. “You know, still be a while before I’m 100%. It’s dramatically better than it was at Augusta.”

He went through a winless spell last season but returned to the winner’s circle at the Waste Management Phoenix Open in February and was in the thick of the trophy hunt at the World Golf Championships- Workday Championship. Then another injury setback. Koepka said he hasn’t made any swing adjustments but he’s struggling to load on his right side.

Koepka is making his sixth career start at the AT& T Byron Nelson, with his best result being a playoff defeat to Sergio Garcia in 2016.