Oakmont, Pennsylvania – Where Were You?

Brooks Koepka must be wondering about his performance lately, especially after shooting a 2-under par 68 in the opening round of the US Open at Oakmont on Thursday. This effort puts him back in the conversation for another major title.

With five major championships under his belt and being the last player to win consecutive US Opens in 2016 and 2017, it feels like Koepka has been somewhat invisible. He missed the cut in both the Masters and the PGA this year, which has led to questions about his recent form. His results have included a T-43, T-26 (last US Open), T-45, and T-64, among others, since his last victory in the 2023 PGA.

This season, he seems to have been rather absent in LIV events as well. Last week, his finishes were 33rd, T-17, T-30, T-18, runner-up in Singapore, 35th, T-7, and T-33 in Thailand.

“From the first weekend of April until about last week, you really wouldn’t have wanted to be around me,” Koepka admitted. “It was rough. I felt crazy and frustrated. I had to apologize to my wife, my son, and the guys. I just… I didn’t want to be around me.”

Koepka has a solid reputation for thriving in major championships, and he’s actively trying to rediscover that edge. “It feels good,” he said, referencing his latest performance. “It’s nice to have a solid round. It’s been a while, and I’m putting in a lot of effort. I’ve picked up some bad habits and swing positions, but I’ve been working on that with my coaches, Pete Cowen and Jeff Pierce, who have really been supportive.”

He mentioned an intense session with Cowen, getting some direct feedback in the bunker for about 45 minutes. “It was tough, but necessary,” he reflected.

When discussing the “old” Koepka, he pointed out a moment with Justin Thomas in the bunker where they spent time working through issues. “It wasn’t exactly what I wanted to hear, but I think I needed to be open to it at that moment,” he noted.

Lastly, Koepka recalled the last time he received such direct feedback from Cowan was back at Erin Hills, during his win at the 2017 PGA. “I don’t like having ‘yes’ people around me,” he emphasized. “I want honesty about what’s going on and how I can improve.”