LIV Golf Orlando R2: Brooks Koepka takes charge as Phil Mickelson struggles
Brooks Koepka has taken control of the third LIV Golf League event of 2023 in Orlando on the eve of The Masters.
Perhaps there is a major just around the corner, as Brooks Koepka appears to be finding his old swagger.
Koepka will take a three shot lead into the final round of LIV Golf Orlando.
For the second consecutive day, Koepka went low at Orange County National. This time, it was a bogey-free 65.
He sits atop the leaderboard at 12-under par, three ahead of Sebastian Munoz.
Koepka - who has played down a rift with PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan - carded six birdies on day two.
He started on the second hole in the traditional shotgun start and made a birdie right out of the gate. Birdies at No. 4, 7, 9, 10 and 14 followed.
Koepka has already tasted victory on the 'rebel' tour, taking home $4m for his win in Jeddah last October.
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He will no doubt relish his return to form heading into the 2023 Masters at Augusta National.
Koepka missed the cut last year for the very first time in the major and has since struggled immensely with injuries and low confidence.
He has a host of big names attempting to hunt him down in the final round. Mito Pereira, Patrick Reed and Laurie Canter sit T-3 on 8-under.
England's Richard Bland is in T-6 with Danny Lee, who won the last event in Tucson. Koepka's teammate Matt Wolff is also in the mix.
Dustin Johnson and Cameron Smith are well adrift of Koepka at 5-under after 36 holes.
At the other end of the leaderbaord, it has been yet another poor showing from Phil Mickelson.
Mickelson is at 4-over after two rounds, which is good for 46th spot out of the 48-man field.
His second round was as wild as it was entertaining: four bogeys, two double bogeys and three birdies.
As for Koepka, his Smash GC also lead the team standings. They have a two-stroke lead over Torque GC at 26-under.
Koepka told there were some frank discussions with his side after two poor events in 2023 in which they had failed to register a point.
He said:
Individual leaderboard:
- Koepka -12
- Munoz -9
- Pereira, Reed, Canter -8
- Bland, Wolff, Lee -7
- Ancer, Tringale, Horsfield, Schwartzel -6
Team standings:
- Smash -26
- Torque -24
- Cleeks -21
- 4 Aces -19
- Stinger -17
