Resurgent Koepka enjoying life in the fast lane at Masters

AUGUSTA, Georgia : Brooks Koepka once had a reputation as a major-winning machine until injuries halted his momentum and stymied his confidence but he appears to have his motor purring again after another solid outing at the Masters on Friday.

Overnight co-leader Koepka, who won four majors in eight starts at one point, was in cruise control throughout his second round as he fired a flawless five-under-par 67 in ideal early conditions to reach 12 under on the week at Augusta National.

It was the latest encouraging sign for LIV Golf's Koepka, who admitted on Friday that after missing a second consecutive Masters cut last year he was so frustrated he tried to put his fist through the window of the car he was using that week.

"I tried to put it through the back window, not once but twice. First time didn't go, so figured try it again," said Koepka. "It was a lot of frustration last year. Super annoying.

"But like I said I've come a long way since then. A lot of it, it's pretty much all health-related."

Now Koepka, who also missed the 2021 Masters cut when he played three weeks after ligament surgery on his right knee, enters the weekend looking to restore his identity as major-championship specialist.

It is a stunning turnaround for Koepka, who once considered quitting golf as he went through rigorous rehab for a myriad of injuries, including a torn patella tendon in his left knee and a labrum injury in his left hip.

Koepka, who came to Augusta National fresh off a win at last week's LIV Golf event in Orlando, turned a corner in regards to strength and mobility in January and finally feels close to the way he felt when he won the fourth major of his dominant stretch in 2019.

"I mean, I've got a completely different knee, so the