The five-time major winner returned to the PGA Tour<\/a> this season after spending four years with LIV Golf and was one of 33 players to break 70 in the first round on Thursday at Aronimink Golf Club outside of Philadelphia.<\/p>\n Last year was a struggle for Koepka on the course, as he missed the cut in three of the four majors and finished 31st in the individual LIV standings.<\/p>\n CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Brooks Koepka reacts after his putt on the 14th green during the first round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, on May 14, 2026. (James Lang\/Imagn Images)<\/p>\n But it was a struggle off the course as well, especially with his wife, Jena Sims, suffering a miscarriage at 16 weeks pregnant.<\/p>\n Speaking after his first round Thursday, Koepka admitted that “a lot of family issues” last year “took a toll” on him and affected his play.<\/p>\n “That was kind of tough to deal with,” Koepka said, via the New York Post<\/a>.<\/p>\n But home is “in a much better place,” which coincides with his impressive scores in the early going.<\/p>\n “It\u2019s easier to come out to work when everything at home lines up. Everything\u2019s a lot better. Last year was just difficult personally with what was going on off the golf course, nothing to do on it. It was just off,” Koepka continued.<\/p>\n Brooks Koepka plays his shot on the tenth hole during the first round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, on May 14, 2026. (Bill Streicher\/Imagn Images)<\/p>\n JON RAHM APOLOGIZES AFTER HITTING VOLUNTEER WITH FLYING DIVOT AT PGA CHAMPIONSHIP: ‘INEXCUSABLE’<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n “So, yeah, just being in a better place. It\u2019s exciting. It\u2019s a little bit of a fresh start as well. I think that\u2019s a big piece of it. Yeah, when all that kind of lines up, it makes it enjoyable to be out here.”<\/p>\n “It\u2019s been a long time since I\u2019ve had fun playing golf. I was very frustrated last year. Just wasn\u2019t in a good place, but I think a lot of times when you \u2014 it\u2019s like anybody, right? If they\u2019re happy off the golf course, they\u2019re going to play well on the golf course. I think that\u2019s a huge, huge piece of it, and I\u2019ve found that,” Koepka told Golf.com<\/a> last week.<\/p>\n “Refound my happiness, my love for the game. All the pieces are connected. It\u2019s just now I\u2019ve got to go out and go play.”<\/p>\n Koepka is currently aiming for his fourth PGA Championship victory, having also won in 2018, 2019 and 2023. He would join Walter Hagen, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods<\/a> as the only four-time winners of the event.<\/p>\n Brooks Koepka walks on the 18th green during the first round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, on May 14, 2026. (Ben Jared\/PGA Tour)<\/p>\n CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Koepka struggled in his early return to the PGA Tour, finishing T55 at the Farmers Insurance Open and missing the cut at the Waste Management Open. But since then, despite two other missed cuts, his finishes have ranged from T9 to T18.<\/p>\n Follow Fox News Digital\u2019s\u00a0<\/strong>sports coverage on X<\/strong><\/a>,\u00a0and subscribe to\u00a0<\/strong>the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n ![\"Brooks](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/brooks-koepka-pga-championship-fox-news-001.jpeg\")
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