Taylor Moore Leads Nelson After Round 1 as Brooks Koepka Challenges

MCKINNEY - Brooks Koepka brought the heat back to TPC Craig Ranch on Thursday, and the 2026 CJ CUP Byron Nelson suddenly has a serious heavyweight in the fight.

Koepka opened with an 8-under 63 outside Dallas, turning a new-look course into a throwback stage for the five-time major champion.

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Taylor Moore stole the top spot late with a 9-under 62, but Koepka’s round carried the louder message: if the putter wakes up, he’s dangerous again.

“It was just a comfortable group as well,” Koepka said. “Everyone is just kind of feeding off each other, easy. Everyone’s having fun. Makes it enjoyable. I feel comfortable on the golf course as well.”

That comfort showed fast. Koepka buried an 18-footer for birdie at No. 11, his second hole, and never let the round cool off. He added six birdies, an eagle and zero bogeys, needing only 25 putts. Even more impressive, he hit just three fairways but still found 14 greens in regulation.

“Finally, I felt good with the putter,” Koepka said. “I felt good the last few days with it when I was working in my studio. Then, when I got here, it felt very comfortable. Rick [Elliott] said the same thing from watching. Which also kind of helps build a little confidence, what you feel versus the reality of it. Just happy with the way everything went today.”

Koepka gained more than two strokes putting, a massive development for a player who has been elite tee-to-green but held back by the flatstick. He’s now chasing Moore, while Jesper Svensson also sits at 8 under. Si Woo Kim opened with a 64, and Scottie Scheffler, defending near home, posted a steady 66.

“I felt like I was pretty close. I did some good stuff,” Scheffler said. “I felt I was a little short with my irons, making myself a few more looks. It’s just a matter of getting closer and holing a few more putts. Overall, I felt like I did some good stuff, just keeping it closer and holing a few more putts. But overall, did a lot of good things.”

Kim may be just as scary if his putter stays hot. “It was a good round, then I putted great,” Kim said. “Hitting was a little off, but I kind of still take it. Yeah, it was a good round. Green was a little tougher than I thought. But I putted really good today, so it was a good round.”

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Koepka knows the bigger prize is still days away, but the edge is back.

“I feel like it’s a long ways away right now, but yeah, it would be great [to win],” Koepka said. “It would be a big confidence boost for sure because I feel like I’ve been playing well, the results just haven’t been there, mainly because of the putter, but I feel like I’m knocking on the door, and I’m very, very close. I would love to have a chance come Sunday.”

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