Brooks Koepka encountered a challenging rules situation during the opening round of the LIV Houston tournament on Friday, requiring intervention from fellow golfer Patrick Reed.
Starting the tournament with a two-under-par 70, Koepka found himself five strokes behind the leaders: Martin Kaymer, Adrian Meronk, and Caleb Surratt. Beginning his round on the first hole of the shotgun start, Koepka opened with a birdie followed by two pars, but encountered trouble with a bogey on the fourth hole.
The bogey on the par-four fourth hole was particularly notable due to a lengthy discussion about where his ball had landed and crossed the water hazard, impacting where he could take his penalty drop. After determining the correct drop zone on the bank between the hazard and the green, Koepka faced additional difficulty as his ball repeatedly rolled back into the hazard due to the slope of the bank.
According to golf rules, specifically Rule 14.2e, a player must attempt to drop the ball twice before placing it if it fails to stay on the original spot. The ball must be placed on the nearest spot where it will stay at rest, not closer to the hole. Koepka struggled with this process, seeking advice from Patrick Reed to ensure proper placement without breaching the rules.
Despite the incident, Koepka managed to continue his round, finishing the hole with a bogey. The first day of play in Houston was highlighted by strong performances from the Cleeks team, with captain Martin Kaymer and teammate Adrian Meronk sharing the lead with Caleb Surratt from Legion XIII. This performance gave the European team a three-shot lead in the team standings, with Kalle Samooja tied for 15th at three-under and US Senior PGA champion Richard Bland tied for 48th at two-over.
