Brooks Koepka put himself right in the mix at the 2026 Genesis Scottish Open, opening with a four-under 66 at the Renaissance Club in Scotland and starting Friday’s second round one shot behind the early leaders.
It was an uneven start, too. Koepka began Thursday with two straight bogeys, but he steadied quickly and made seven birdies over his final 16 holes to work his way back into contention. For a player looking for the first PGA Tour win of his return, it was the kind of recovery round that keeps a tournament within reach.
Koepka’s path back into the picture
The opening round mattered not just because of the score, but because of how it unfolded. Falling to two over early could have taken him out of the conversation before the week really got going. Instead, Koepka responded with enough birdies to turn the round into a strong position on the leaderboard.
That leaves him with a clear target entering Friday: stay close through the second round and give himself a chance to attack over the final 36 holes. At a venue like the Renaissance Club, where scores can move quickly, being one shot back after 18 holes is exactly the kind of place a player wants to be.
Koepka is scheduled to tee off at 7:59 a.m. ET on Friday alongside Grant Forrest and Min Woo Lee. The second round begins early at the Genesis Scottish Open, with PGA Tour Live on + starting exclusive streaming coverage at 3:15 a.m. ET. Golf Channel’s second-round television coverage begins at 11 a.m. ET, with additional Friday broadcast windows running from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. ET.
For Koepka, the number to watch is simple: one shot. That is the margin between him and the leaders heading into Friday, and it is enough to keep his name firmly in the conversation as the week moves forward.
For more tournament context, readers can also follow Chris Gotterup wins from five back before defending Genesis Scottish Open title.
