AUGUSTA, GA. Ask elite level players about major events they've played and the focus almost always goes to those times when victory was within grasp then shockingly pulled away --either from poor execution, exemplary play from the competition or a combination of both.
Jack Nicklaus won 18 majors in a career of superlatives. The Golden Bear also finished a record 19 times as runner-up and in a few of those instances the memory of those moments has never extinguished itself in his mind.
Nicklaus recounted his time as a 20-year-old amateur and paired with the mighty Ben Hogan in the 1960 U.S. Open. A nervous Jack failed to fix a ball mark on his line because he did not ask Hogan if it was OK to do so. He then missed the putt. Hogan said afterwards that Nicklaus should have won the tournament if he knew how to process such moments.
Jack would face another such moment after turning professional and competing in The Open Championship at Royal Lytham & St. Anne's in 1963. Nicklaus was playing in just his second Open and only needing a par on the final hole to join Bob Charles and Phil Rodgers in a playoff.
Nicklaus would fail to secure the par and the memory of that moment never escaped him in the years to follow and the countless high-level events he would go on to win.
At the 2023 Masters the scene was set for the rightful coronation when Brooks Koepka started the final round with a two-shot margin over rival John Rahm. Koepka had started the tournament in brilliant fashion, scoring 132 for the first two rounds.
Unlike previous times when Koepka had finished off majors in sterling fashion the ending of the 2023 Masters saw him lose control of the lead and eventually the title to the Spaniard. A disappointing final round of three-over-par 75 saw him finish four shots behind.
A golden opportunity was lost and one Koepka has not forgotten.
Koepka admitted he did not sleep much after that tournament concluded. But he also wanted to better understand the totality of what had happened and learn from it.
Koepka's main take was straightforward for its directness.
"You learn from losses – not wins."
Say what one will of Koepka – he never sugar coats.
Koepka knows the next time he's in that same position he wants the result to be different and the only way to do that is being brutally honest about one's golf game.
Since winning his first major at the 2017 U.S. Open Koepka has never been shy in being candid about his golf and how he views specific matters tied to golf.
For many players the safe play when speaking to the media is ingrained into their heads by agents wanting to make sure no offending statement is made.
Koepka doesn't look to offend – but he's never hesitant to articulate matters as he truly feels. Years ago, when interviewing Lee Trevino I asked the Merry Mex to finish the following sentence – Lee Trevino is __?
His answer was classic Lee – "If you don't want to hear it bad, don't ask me." Koepka hews closely to that approach.
It's important to remember that since the 2017 U.S. Open – no golfer has won more majors – five - and no one has more runner-up finishes – four. Should Koepka triumph this week his six major total would equal players such as Trevino, Nick Faldo and Phil Mickelson. All of the aforementioned are World Golf Hall of Famers.
Compared to his overall tournament play which has been solid but hardly noteworthy, how does Koepka explain the difference between them?
"The more chaotic things get, the easier it gets for me."
This year's Masters has a clear favorite with the elevated play from Scottie Scheffler. There's also the return of Rahm to the setting where he joined fellow countrymen (Seve Ballesteros, José MarÃa Olazábal and Sergio GarcÃa) as green jacket wearers.
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Koepka does not get annoyed by the fanfare played to others. He's quite comfortable in his own skin and supremely confident in his abilities. His understanding of the game plan needed for major championships centers around one defining word – discipline.
"Every time I've won, I've been super disciplined."
Koepka also knows majors are a grind of a week – physically but even more so mentally.
"Staying patient, that's a massive thing when winning a major."
While Koepka has never disclosed what he learned from last year's Masters slip-up you could see the results that took place just one month later when winning his third PGA Championship at Oak Hill.
Moving to LIV has meant a different competitive model with 54-hole golf, no cuts and team play. However, Koepka showed the capacity in becoming the first player from the rival league to snare major championship hardware.
The 33-year-old is fully capable of inserting himself into the discussion at the 88th Masters.
Those failing to pay heed had best keep a watchful eye on the leaderboard.
It's a position cool hand Koepka is most familiar with.
