Brooks Koepka could have the edge at the PGA Championship due to a strength nobody talks about

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Brooks Koepka is back in the winners’ circle after picking up his first LIV Golf title of 2024 in Singapore.

The American made LIV history on Sunday, becoming the first player to win four individual titles. Five-time major winner Koepka has previously won twice in Jeddah and once in Orlando.

After a difficult start to 2024, the American now appears to be in great shape heading into the PGA Championship at Valhalla, which gets underway on May 16.

Koepka admitted after Saturday’s second round at Sentosa that his putting was beginning to heat up. However, it’s another part of his game that was impeccable in Singapore.

Brooks Koepka’s remarkable scrambling statistics underpin his Singapore success

Typically, Koepka’s strengths lie in his ball striking and ability to hit greens in regulation. And when his putter catches fire, he’s incredibly hard to compete with.

Speaking after his win at Sentosa, he admitted his iron play is what sets him apart. “I think my iron play is a huge part of that. I think I am a good ball striker,” he explained. “I mean, I am pretty good inside eight feet normally. When there’s close putt I feel like do make it. But I think the thing that separates me is my ability to lock in and go somewhere a lot of guys can’t go.”

However, one of the American’s strengths perhaps goes under the radar.

In Singapore, Koepka ranked first for scrambling and amassed a 100 per cent success rate during his three rounds. Whenever he did miss a green in regulation, he managed to bounce back with a par save [stats per LIV Golf’s website].

Brooks Koepka’s scrambling – LIV Golf 2024 season

It’s only been a recent improvement, having also impressed in Adelaide with a scramble rate of 83 per cent. In Miami, it was down to 34 per cent and in Hong Kong 54 per cent.

Brooks Koepka could now compete with Scottie Scheffler at Valhalla

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Koepka displayed an ability to bounce back from rare loose shots this week, which is an ominous sign heading to Valhalla.

Scottie Scheffler is the man to beat, but if Koepka can maintain this elite-level scrambling, he has to be in with a chance.

Effectively, the five-time major champion’s impeccable short game is preventing any significant blemishes on his scorecard, something Scheffler also does brilliantly well.

A repeat short-game performance at Valhalla will no doubt see the American challenging late in the final round; a prospect that should excite golf fans all around the world.