Folks, hold on tight! Brooks Koepka, the five-time Major champion and 2023 PGA Championship hero, is once again the talk of the town. After his return from LIV Golf to the PGA Tour in January 2026 via the Returning Members Program, the 'Beast's' form is sharply on the rise. Rumors are swirling: Will he claim victory at the 2026 Masters? All signs point to Koepka being a formidable contender at Augusta.
Koepka Accelerates: The Comeback Saga
Since his re-entry, it's clear: the man wants more than just to compete. Even if he seemed a bit rusty at the Farmers Insurance Open (Torrey Pines) and missed the cut at the WM Phoenix Open – thanks to a quick putter change (away from the blade, towards the mallet) things went really strong afterwards! A T9 at the Cognizant Classic (-10), followed by a T13 at THE PLAYERS Championship (-6 and $409,028 in the bank) and a T10 at the Valspar Championship (-4) speak volumes. Although currently at OWGR Rank 263, with these top finishes, moving up is only a matter of time.
The Road to Augusta: The Major Hunter's Strategy
Before the first Major of the year, Koepka still has the Texas Children's Houston Open at the end of March 2026 on his schedule – his first appearance there since a T5. A perfect tune-up to fine-tune details. He is exempt for The Masters thanks to his 2023 PGA Championship victory. Although he traditionally takes the week before Augusta off, this time he's considering an early visit, because "You only get one week off, so it’s really a quick turnaround," as he states himself. He's counting on the momentum from the Florida Swing and wants to fully focus on Augusta.
Brooks' return was no walk in the park. After his LIV commitment in 2022 and a $5M payment, he rediscovered his passion for the PGA Tour. This newfound joy in the game, coupled with strategic adjustments on the green, makes him a genuine threat to the competition. Golfers, we're hyped for Augusta, and Koepka seems to be too!
