Brooks Koepka was one tired guy when he arrived in Connecticut on Wednesday.
He had permission to miss the pro-am at The Travelers, no worries, he kept his commitment to play despite weariness from a week of wear and tear at Shinnecock Hills.
Koepka came out firing on all cylinders during Thursday’s first round. He started on the back nine and quickly rattled off four straight birdies starting at the 11th hole. He then drove the par four 15th with a chance to go five-under but a three-putt par ended his run. He made the turn, picked up another birdie at two and was five-under through 12.
Then the tank ran low on gas.
Fatigue set in and Koepka bogeyed four of his last six holes and posted a two-under par 68 — good for a tie for 38th.
He was immediately looking forward to a nap.
“I just ran out of gas. I’m exhausted mentally,” Koepka said. “I tried go get some rest when I was back home (in Florida), but we got home at about 4:30 (Monday morning), fell asleep at 4:45, and I woke up, Dustin (Johnson) was in my living room at 8. He came over on the boat to say hi. So not as much rest as I would have liked.”
Koepka was asked if he brought the U.S. Open trophy with him.
The answer was a quick “no” and he wasn’t sure where it was back at his house in north Palm Beach County.
“I don’t even know where we left it, to be honest with you,” Koepka said. “I was trying to sleep so much. I left it, I think, on the kitchen counter. I don’t even know.”
