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FARMINGDALE, N.Y. – Brooks Koepka has won three of the last eight major golf championships, including P.G.A. from last year. Championship. He is third in the world, tied for second in this year's Masters and has not shot a lap above normal since mid-March.
But Thursday, for most of the fans who rallied for the first round of the 2019 Championship at the Black Course at Bethpage State Park in Longpage, Koepka was just one of the guys playing in the same group with the show's star, Tiger Woods.
Koepka did not take it personally.
"It's obvious that everyone in New York will encourage Tiger," he said.
Koepka was also happy to use the platform that Woods' presence allowed him to challenge his position after the fact.
Thursday, with a minimum of 63 under par 63, Koepka set a course record on the long and formidable Black Course to take the lead in the competition. He had nine shots over Woods, who was far from the top of the standings with a 72 out of two.
It may not be a coincidence that, after his tour, Koepka chose to amplify the statement his 63 members made.
"It's great that Tiger won Augusta," he said of Woods' inspiring victory at the Masters tournament in April. "But, I mean, we're at a new week now."
It was not necessary to remind Woods that he was now in mid-May and that he was not at the Augusta National Golf Club, where he feels at home with all forms and all outline of the route. The Black Course punished Woods from his first tee shot, which landed in a deep rough and led to a double bogey at the discouraging opening hole.
Erroneous throughout the day, Woods looked rusty and out of sync, which was not surprising since his last round of competition was held on April 14th, the last day of the Masters.
Woods, who missed a scheduled training session on Wednesday because he was sick, hit only 12 greens and got 31 shots, an inconsistency that ruined any speed that he built on his second nine, which he opened with birdies back to back. Woods, who said he felt good Thursday, had a chance of three successive birdies but missed a nine-foot putt.
"I missed a couple of chances and I just did not manage to stay together at the end," said Woods, who had an eagle, three birdies, two double bogeys and three bogeys.
More than 15 golfers did what Woods could not do on Thursday and shot below average, including Danny Lee, who dragged Koepka all of a sudden. Lee, ranked 119th in the world, never finished higher than 43rd at the P.G.A. Championship, but has three top 10 this season on the PGA Tour. Lee, 28, made seven birdies and two bogeys.
Englishman Tommy Fleetwood, who has played several major tournaments recently, shot 67 times Thursday. Phil Mickelson, Rickie Fowler, Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth and Jason Day have also been eliminated.
Woods denied Thursday that his long layoff period after playing golf was a contributing factor to his uneven playing. But Koepka, who played in the PGA Tour Bryon Nelson last weekend and did four rounds in the 60s, certainly looked more prepared than Woods.
At the fifth hole, for example, Koepka hit his tee shot 20 meters ahead of Woods, then hit his approach shot within 16 feet of the hole. Koepka, who had only 25 putts, sank one of his seven birdie putts.
Woods got his approach shot of 193 yards on the fifth green 32 feet from the hole and three shots for a bogey.
In this sequence, the top length of Koepka was visible. But he was also more accurate with his iron play on the green and obviously more accurate than a putter. This trend continued throughout the first round.
Koepka, who had no boguey, continues to prove himself in the big golf championships, a parameter that constantly brings together other great golfers.
"He does not even seem nervous," said Ricky Elliott, Koepka's younger brother. "I do not know why. It must be in him.
"I'm just going for my business; you know, you would like to make their life more difficult, "Koepka said of his rivals. "It's always good to be ahead."
Those chasing him have noticed Koepka's confidence in the four major championships.
"I think we all know that Brooks is doing a really good job at the majors," said Fleetwood, who finished second in the 2018 US Open, a blow behind Koepka. "I would not be surprised if he was still here on Sunday. I think when you get to the majors, there are certain names and people that you have to beat, and most of the time, some names and people appear in the rankings.
"I think there is a similarity in the way some players organize major leagues and in the way they prepare themselves."
Fowler suggested that the long Black Course would also play Koepka's forces.
"The golf course suits him well because he manages the ball well – by far, which shortens some of the very long par 4 here," said Fowler. "We have come to expect that from Brooks in the majors. This is not a surprise. "
Woods was also impressed by Koepka on Thursday.
"I think 63 was the best score he could have shot today," Woods said. "It could have been better a few shots."
Koepka agreed. In some respects, he said, he was disappointed with his round, which equaled the record 18-hole record of the event.
"It's one of the best rounds I've played as a professional," he said. "But I did not birdie with the normals. These are holes that you should be able to birdie.
"It would have been nice to shoot at 60. I guess that would have been pretty good."
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