CNN
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For Brooks Koepka, selecting his favourite main win is akin to selecting a favourite youngster.

Or no less than, what he imagines the sensation is like. The 32-year-old has no youngsters of his personal, however the 4 glistening trophies displayed in his dwelling are equally cherished all the identical.

The matching pairs of US Open and PGA Championships cups had been all scooped in an unprecedented stretch between 2017 and 2019 that noticed the American develop into the primary golfer in historical past to win back-to-back titles in two completely different majors concurrently. Earlier than Koepka, no one had ever received their first 4 majors inside two years.

It implies that, of the eight PGA Tour wins he has to his identify, half are main triumphs. For Koepka, it’s a ratio he’s greater than content material with.

“Nothing fairly feels the identical, the majors are so completely different. It’s the head of our sport, it’s what you’re judged by,” Koepka informed CNN.

“In the event you take a look at all of the greats which have ever performed this sport, most individuals can’t inform you what number of PGA Tour occasions or what number of European Tour occasions this particular person’s received or that particular person’s received, however they know precisely what number of majors you’ve received.

“So, to me, that’s what you’re outlined by.”

They’re phrases that make for robust studying for the host of supremely gifted golfers who by no means clinched, or are nonetheless chasing, a serious win. With 11 runner-up finishes between them, Colin Montgomerie, Lee Westwood, and Rickie Fowler are simply three acclaimed gamers for whom majors have proved elusive regardless of a plethora {of professional} wins.

Koepka has beforehand defined how majors are the simplest tournaments to win. It’s a attribute candidness that he makes no apologies for. The truth is, he sees it as a power.

“I’m fairly blunt, I don’t like beating across the bush. I simply say it how it’s, I’ve at all times been that approach,” he stated. “I do know my monotone can come off a bit of little bit of a ache within the butt for individuals, however that’s how I really feel.

“I find it irresistible when athletes get cocky or assured in themselves – I believe that’s necessary. Everyone wants that, it doesn’t matter what occupation, it doesn’t matter what you’re doing.

“In the event you really feel you’re one of the best then go forward and say it after which simply return it up.”

Koepka poses with the Wanamaker Trophy after capturing his second PGA Championship title in 2019.

And Koepka has definitely backed it up. The Floridian has completed contained in the top-five in 12 of his 34 profession main begins, together with three runner-up finishes.

Solely 5 instances has he missed the reduce, and two of these got here throughout an excruciating season final 12 months.

Koepka’s present Official World Golf Rating (OWGR) No. 85 standing is the bottom place he has held since 2014 – albeit with the caveat of his involvement within the LIV Golf Sequence which, due its exclusion from the OWGR weighting system, has adversely affected the rating of gamers who’ve joined the Saudi-backed collection.

Harm woes have compounded a painful fall from the summit for the previous World No. 1. After tearing the patella tendon in his left knee in 2019, Koepka revealed this previous October that he had “dislocated and shattered” his proper knee in 2021. The accidents had been so extreme that the American questioned if his profession was over.

His wrestle to return to phrases along with his lack of kind was laid naked in Netflix’s new fly-on-the-wall golf documentary collection “Full Swing,” the place Koepka admitted his hunch was “the worst” he had ever suffered in his life.

“There was quite a lot of stuff … simply in (my) private life, had gone on. A number of down instances, man,” Koepka informed CNN.

“The accidents, you look again at it and quite a lot of time you’re simply sitting there. There’s quite a lot of ache, quite a lot of stuff you’ve simply acquired to endure, simply to make it higher. It’s not at all times enjoyable, not at all times glamorous.”

Koepka struggled for form during 2022.

But Koepka nonetheless carries good recollections of 2022, particularly his marriage to Jena Sims and a cathartic win on the closing particular person occasion of the LIV Golf Invitational Sequence in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in October.

Alongside brother Chase, he additionally secured victory within the corresponding group occasion. Given Koepka had promised to purchase his youthful sibling a Lamborghini in the event that they received, it put a dent in his $4 million particular person winner’s earnings, however finally ensured a cheerful ending to a disappointing marketing campaign.

Brooks and Chase Koepka toast their victory at the LIV Golf Invitiational - Jeddah.

“To have the ability to lastly have some comfortable instances, some success with all of the down stuff, it was very gratifying … one thing I can actually, actually look again on,” Koepka stated.

“I might really feel the development coming upwards, (throughout) the center of the 12 months – I used to be getting out of the funk and simply comfortable to be out of it now.

“Hopefully put all that stuff behind me and keep wholesome for some time, that’s the objective.”

Naturally although, that isn’t Koepka’s solely objective for 2023. A self-confessed “gradual starter,” he’s trying to be in control by the point The Masters rolls round in April.

Runner-up to Tiger Woods in 2019, a inexperienced jacket would put Koepka on monitor for what he considers to be a “good” 2023.

“Hopefully a number of wins, after which a serious – that’s the objective yearly,” he stated.