This response to a reporter’s question proves Brooks Koepka hasn’t lost his confidence

Brooks Koepka hasn’t won in a year and has just one top-25 finish in 10 starts this season. That came in June at the RBC Heritage, where he finished 7th, but in his three starts since he’s missed two cuts and tied for 62nd.

Koepka doesn’t rank in the top 120 in a few key Strokes Gained metrics and is still bothered by a knee injury. He said he can’t run right now and can only bike about once a week without his knee flaring up. The 30-year-old is the defending champ at this week’s WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational, which also happens to be his last win. He’s also looking for his third straight PGA Championship title come next week at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco.

On Wednesday in Memphis, Tenn., ahead of the first round of the St. Jude, Koepka was asked if his confidence has wavered during this rough stretch. In short? No.

Q. Brooks, you’ve always been one of the more confident guys going into majors. With the recent struggles, do you still carry that mindset?
Koepka: I’m defending, aren’t I? [Smirks.]
Q. Yeah.
Koepka: Okay. Just checking.

Yep, he still has his swagger. Although he did admit these last few months have been frustrating and testing him mentally.

“But at the same time, I’m looking at it as a challenge and something where I know I’m going to. It will turn around eventually,” he said. “It’s going to turn around. You don’t work that hard for nothing. Starting to see signs of it. Now it’s just about going and doing it. Whether it be this week, next week, a month from now, two months from now, whatever it’s going to be, it will pay off.”

Koepka kicks off his opening round at TPC Southwind at 1:50 p.m. (ET) on Thursday alongside Patrick Reed and Viktor Hovland.