Brooks Koepka admits he’s apologized to wife and son in honest U.S. Open admission

Brooks Koepka is back among the contenders for a major title after making a strong start to his 2025 U.S. Open campaign, but his recent struggles have taken a significant toll

Brooks Koepka has faced a challenging last couple of years, marked by uncharacteristic struggles in major tournaments.

The LIV Golf star, a five-time major winner, missed the cut at both the Masters and the PGA Championship earlier this year, after failing to finish above T26 at all four majors in 2024. These setbacks left Koepka visibly frustrated, as his usually reliable game faltered under the weight of mechanical issues.

However, at the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont, Koepka has shown signs of a resurgence, carding an impressive two-under-par 68 in the first round, including a birdie-birdie finish, placing him in a tie for third. As things stand ahead of the third round, the American is T8 on two over par – still in contention for the title, with leader Sam Burns just five strokes ahead.

This relatively strong start signals a potential return to form for the 35-year-old, who lifted the U.S. Open in 2017 and 2018. However, it’s clear that his recent struggles have taken something of an emotional toll, adversely affecting his personal life.

“My perception, like I said, was so far off. I haven’t seen it on video today, but I would probably look that my swing looks quite similar to how it did in ’13 or years past. It’s definitely trending in that direction.

“PGA [Championship] I didn’t feel good. Augusta I felt good going in. I don’t really know what happened. Well, I do: The putter. I felt like I was right there, missed a – I think I three-putted on 12 from about 12 feet and missed a 2-and-a-half, three-footer there and kind of derailed the whole round.

Koepka’s turnaround at the U.S. Open may stem from recent work with swing coach Pete Cowen, who delivered a blunt 45-minute critique during a practice round. This “scolding,” as Koepka described it, helped him correct swing flaws, particularly club positioning.