Cognizant Classic: Brooks Koepka Makes Weekend as Return and Remarks Reframe Career Question
Brooks Koepka carded a 5-under 66 in the second round at the cognizant classic and advanced to the weekend at PGA National, moving to 2 under for the tournament. The result matters now because the five-time major champion is continuing a measured return to the PGA Tour while publicly wrestling with what his career will mean.
Cognizant Classic leaderboard and scoring
Austin Smotherman sits atop the leaderboard after the second round, holding a three-shot cushion over Taylor Moore, and shot a 69 in Round 2. Moore is alone at 8 under after a second straight 67. A. J. Ewart produced the round of the day, a 64, and is at 7 under, tied with Nico Echavarria. Koepka and Ben Silverman both stand at 2 under as they head into the weekend, nine shots back of Smotherman.
Scores through Friday underscore notable day-to-day movement: Koepka cut eight strokes from his opening-round total with Friday’s 66; Silverman trimmed six strokes with a 3-under 67 to climb into the weekend after opening poorly. Those swings affected the cut line and reshaped pairings for Saturday at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens.
Brooks Koepka’s second-round adjustments and comments
Koepka’s bounce came despite uneven ball-striking. He hit six of 14 fairways in Round 2 but converted with the putter, making six birdies—four more than he managed in Round 1. That improved putting produced the 5-under 66 that moved him to 2 under overall and ensured a Saturday start. He has now made two of three cuts since returning to the PGA Tour.
“If I’m out here to try to make cuts, I’m probably done, ” Koepka said, framing his standards for the comeback. He is a native of Palm Beach County, a detail that adds local context to this week’s performance at PGA National. What makes this notable is how Koepka’s on-course adjustments after Round 1 directly translated into a stronger score, demonstrating a practical approach to rebuilding form rather than offering a tidy statement about legacy.
Daniel Berger’s withdrawal, alternate entry and Ben Silverman’s weekend
Will Zalatoris withdrew shortly before Round 1 with an ankle injury, creating an opening that allowed Ben Silverman to enter the field as an alternate. Silverman described a rapid jump up the alternate list—15th alternate on Sunday, moving to 13th Monday morning and then to fourth later that day—and capitalized on the chance. His rounds of 73 and 67 pushed him to 2 under and into the weekend; he had missed the cut at this tournament last year by four shots.
The chain of events illustrates cause and effect across the field: Zalatoris’ late withdrawal led to Silverman’s entry, and Silverman’s second-round 67 reversed an early deficit and produced a weekend berth. That same dynamic—small adjustments producing measurable gains—played out for Koepka on Friday.
Legacy questions and the trajectory of a comeback
Koepka has been candid about bigger questions that come with an established career. Asked whether he knows what he wants his legacy to be, he replied that it was a “very deep question” and said he focuses on being the best person and golfer he can be rather than defining a legacy in advance. The practical upshot on the course is visible: focused adjustments, an improving short game and results that keep him in contention on weekends.
Beyond headline scores, the week demonstrates a broader implication: Koepka’s current form and his public reflections are shaping the narrative around him more through deeds than declarations. With Saturday looming at PGA National, he and others who climbed the leaderboard will have a clearer sense of how these events affect their seasons and the larger arc of their careers.
