World Number One Brooks Koepka fired an ominous warning to his rivals after carding a bogey free 66 in his first competitive round of golf for three months at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA.
The American aggravated a knee injury in October but showed no ill effects at Abu Dhabi Golf Club as he moved to six under and put himself in contention after 18 holes at the first Rolex Series event of the 2020 Race to Dubai.
He revealed after his round that he had not been able to practise properly throughout 2019 and was now ready to rededicate himself to improving a game that has seen him win four Major Championships in less than three years.
"I'm excited and it will be nice to be able to practise again," he said. "I haven't been able to practise. Last year, I just couldn't practise. It was too painful and I wasn't being able to do the things I wanted to do.
"I told my team in the last year, I was just going to really rededicate myself for the next five, six years, and we'll see where we are.
"From there, who knows, other things might be a priority."
Koepka may have those four Major Championships to his name but he has yet to win a Rolex Series event, and he is confident his knee will not hold him back in his quest to break that duck this week.
"I like the way I've played," he said. "I've kind of known I've been hitting it really well, putting it really well for a couple of weeks.
"I think the first day I picked up the club, same thing, felt like I hadn't left. I've done it for years and years. You don't forget how to swing the golf club.
"It feels fine. It was a little sore last night, just did some treatment on it, that's expected. This is a first week I've walked 18 holes and I've done it three times already. It's a little tired.
"It's good to be back. I've missed the competition, obviously.
"I played really solid. Missed a few putts early if I really want to pick it apart. Drove the ball well, controlled ball flight and controlled distances really well and that's what you have to do out here."
