KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. – One hole into the PGA Championship, Brooks Koepka was more worried about his brain than his ailing knee.
His opening tee shot on the 10th hole at Kiawah Island was struck poorly and didn't quite clear a waste area. Koepka tried to do too much from a soft lie in the sand and barely got it out.
It led to a double bogey, and the toughest part of the Ocean Course was still to come. But this is a major, and this is Koepka, and that's when he's at his best.
He knuckled down from that mess by running off six birdies the rest of the way for a 3-under 69 and a share of the early lead Thursday. “The first rule is, if you’re in trouble, get the hell out.