Tranlate this title Rex Hoggard responds to claims Brooks Koepka may be ‘washed’ after PGA Tour struggles in spanish

Brooks Koepka’s first season back on the PGA Tour did not end the way the five-time major champion hoped, as he failed to qualify for the FedExCup Playoffs.

Koepka returned to the PGA Tour earlier this year after leaving LIV Golf, but he struggled to produce the results many expected from him. His final opportunity to reach the Playoffs came at the Wyndham Championship, where he finished tied for 67th.

The American ended the regular season 94th in the FedExCup standings, well outside the top 70 who advanced to the Playoffs. Koepka made 11 cuts in 16 starts, but his T9 finish at the Cognizant Classic was his only top-10 result of the season.

Koepka was not happy with those numbers. After the Wyndham Championship, he described his failure to reach the Playoffs as «pathetic» and admitted that his season had been disappointing.

His struggles have now led to questions over where the 36-year-old stands at this stage of his career.

Rex Hoggard does not believe Brooks Koepka is ‘washed’

Golf Channel’s Rex Hoggard does not believe it is time to say Koepka is finished at the highest level.

Speaking on the Golf Channel Podcast with Rex & Lav, Hoggard discussed Koepka’s difficult season with Ryan Lavner and whether his performances suggest his best days are behind him.

«At the end of 2025 there were a lot of question marks, most of them had to do with his game at that point, there was also a lot going on off the golf course which probably factored into it,» Hoggard said.

«I don’t know if I still have the same mindset towards ‘is he washed’. Not right now.»

Lavner pointed out that Koepka’s long game remains at a good level, with the bigger questions surrounding whether he still has the same desire to compete after everything he has achieved.

«The long game is still very, very good. So I think is he washed is mostly a competitive fire issue and does he still want it,» Lavner explained.

But Lavner revealed that Koepka had given him a clear answer when asked about his motivation following a difficult year.

«When I asked him on Sunday in the interview that never actually aired, it was can you use a season like this to light a fire for 2027 and he said I am burning just as hot as I ever have, it’s just figuring out one part of the game that is going to help me unlock the success that I know I can have on the PGA Tour.»

Putting has been the biggest problem for Koepka since his return. Earlier in the season, his ball-striking numbers remained strong while he continued to lose ground on the greens. At the CJ Cup Byron Nelson in May, he even changed putters again and opened with a 63 after finally feeling more comfortable with the club.

That improvement did not become consistent enough to change his season, though. By the end of the regular season, Koepka ranked 116th in Strokes Gained: Putting.

Hoggard believes there are examples of experienced players finding solutions to similar problems and pointed to Lucas Glover as one of them.

«We have seen players at this stage of their career struggle with their putting. There are fixes. My mind went to Lucas Glover, he was a player of a very similar age, and when it comes to their struggles with the putting [they were similar]. I still think there are ways to work around it.»

Koepka’s motivation

Hoggard also rejected the suggestion that Koepka no longer has the motivation to return to the top.

«I am not going to question the fire because there was a reason he was sitting on the Porch in the dark at Hilton Head waiting to get into the event, the only Signature Event he was trying to get into because he didn’t get into any of the others.

He has proven that not only does he want to come back to the PGA Tour, but he wants to climb the ladder to get back to where he was before.»

Koepka is expected to keep playing after missing the Playoffs

Koepka’s season was also affected by a physical problem. He dealt with an ulnar-nerve issue that affected the grip and feeling in his left hand and forced him to withdraw from the final round of the RBC Canadian Open. He then missed the cuts at the US Open and Genesis Scottish Open before finishing T28 at The Open.

Despite everything that went wrong, Hoggard does not expect Koepka to disappear for the rest of 2026.

«There are plenty of players on the PGA Tour who are doing all sorts of things, searching for answers, and I don’t think he is going to give up.

He didn’t sound like a player who was going to go home and pout because the season didn’t go how he wanted to.

My anticipation is we are going to see him quite a bit in the Fall, not only to secure his card but to try and find his game.»

Lavner also revealed that Koepka is considering playing outside the United States as he looks for more competitive rounds.

«He told me he is expecting to play a handful of times in Europe. He has played the Dunhill the last couple of years.

He has also played the French Open, he could also pick off a couple on the PGA Tour, if he wants to get some reps.» he concluded.