Brooks Koepka keeps things simple in long-awaited return to Florida, in contention at WGC-Workday Championship

BRADENTON, Fla. – After nearly 30 days on the road, Brooks Koepka couldn’t wait to kiss the ground of the Sunshine State and get home.

His abundant joy was evident in Thursday’s first round of the World Golf Championships-Workday Championship at The Concession.

Koepka, a winner earlier this year in the Waste Management Phoenix Open, made 112 feet of putts and posted just one bogey in a 5-under-par 67 to stand one shot out of the lead.

The four-time major champion and former world No. 1 did his good work despite seeing the course for the first time during his 9-hole pro-am round on Wednesday. He saw the back nine for the first time Thursday morning when he opened his day’s play on the 10^th.

WGC-Workday: Leaderboard | Photos

“I mean, Rick (Elliott, his caddie) walked it, I get a yardage book, it’s not too difficult,” said Koepka, ranked No. 12 in the world. “I don’t think anything of it. It is what it is. You’ve got to look up on the tee, you know on 10 water’s right, there’s bunkers on the left, so put it in the fairway.

“I don’t think too much. I just try to keep it pretty simple. If it’s 300 yards to the bunker or there’s a bunker that cuts out, OK, then it’s just 3‑wood. I try to make it very simple and I don’t overcomplicate it. I’m not thinking the club’s got to be in a certain position to do this, do that; just get up there, see it and go hit it.”

Only five players in the field had played a tournament at The Concession before this week – in the 2015 NCAAs, the individual title won by Bryson DeChambeau. But that lack of experience didn’t provide much of an obstacle.

Forty-three of the 72 players in the field matched or broke par, led by pace-setters Webb Simpson and Matthew Fitzpatrick, both who signed for a 66. Joining Koepka one shot back were Sergio Garcia, Kevin Kisner and Billy Horschel. At 68 were defending champion Patrick Reed, world No. 2 Jon Rahm and Tony Finau.

World No. 1 Dustin Johnson, however, shot 77, Matthew Wolff 83.

DeChambeau also shot 77.

Simpson, who saw the course for the first time Tuesday, played much longer practice rounds with his caddie, Paul Tesori, by his side to plot out the course and draw up a blueprint. They spent most of the time on and around the greens.

“Probably an extra question or two or conversation or two per hole,” Simpson said. “The course is fantastic. It’s firm. I was hoping it would get firm and fast. It takes that lengthy scorecard down a little bit. Very pleased with the start. I worked on a couple things last week with putting alignment and with my driver and I saw good things from that today.

“And made a lot of putts today, so that was a good feeling.”

So, too, did Koepka, who is healthy again after a yearlong battle with hip and knee injuries. He was ecstatic to get back on Bermuda greens. Interestingly, his lone bogey came on a three-putt from 15 feet. Other than that, his putter was a weapon.

“Stupid three‑putt,” Koepka said. “But other than that, I’ve been striking the ball so well. I love these new irons. The flight on them, it’s a little higher and just I’m striking the ball so well, so I expect to be there on Sunday.

“I don’t know if it’s just a couple of the changes I’ve made in putting, just a couple adjustments or it’s just the fact of being on Bermuda, it could be either one, I’m not quite sure, but it does feel nice to be on Bermuda, that’s for sure.

“I’m excited to be in Florida.”