DUBLIN, Ohio – As the sun began to fade on Friday, Brooks Koepka made a frantic run at making the cut in the Workday Charity Open at Muirfield Village Golf Club.
On Saturday morning, he learned he fell one shot short.
The world No. 6 and four-time major winner birdied five of his last seven holes in the second round – and came within an inch of jarring his approach from 92 yards on the 14th for another birdie – to move to 1-under 143 after rounds of 74-69.
But when the storm-delayed second round concluded under bright skies Saturday morning, the cut fell at 2 under.
“I never give up, never think you’re out of it, and you’ve just got to battle through it no matter what you’re doing,” Koepka said Friday. “That’s part of why you’re out here. You’re a pro, you just sack up and do it.”
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The cut also claimed three-time major champion Jordan Spieth (72-72), two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson (79-73). Other major champions missing the cut included Justin Rose (74-80), Jimmy Walker (74-78), Davis Love III (74-76), Vijay Singh (75-69), Charl Schwartzel (73-71) and Jim Furyk (75-68).
Sixty-seven players made the cut.
Knowing he likely would fall short, Koepka decided to add next week’s Memorial Tournament to his schedule. With his addition, nine of the top-10 players in the world (Adam Scott is the lone exception) are in the Memorial field.
As is Tiger Woods, who will play for the first time since COVID shut down the PGA Tour in March.
Koepka will not play five consecutive weeks – Workday, Memorial, 3M Open in Minnesota, the WGC-St. Jude Invitational in Memphis and the PGA Championship at Harding Park in San Francisco, where he’ll try to win his third consecutive Wanamaker Trophy.
“I’m pretty far down in the FedExCup and need to make a run,” Koepka said. “I think it’s pretty simple. I didn’t plan on playing, but things change, and I’d like to be in Atlanta. That’s what you’ve got to do; I’m going to basically run the table.”
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