Brooks Koepka Shines at the U.S. Open
OAKMONT, Pa. — Recent golf discussions have primarily focused on Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler, overshadowing another major contender: Brooks Koepka. On Thursday at the U.S. Open, Koepka reminded everyone of his impressive record with five major victories—two more than Scheffler and equal to McIlroy’s count. When he’s on his game, he proves to be a formidable opponent.
Koepka concluded his round with a score of 2-under 68, placing him just a stroke away from Round 1 leader J.J. Spaun, who shot 4-under. This performance ended a streak of underwhelming results that persisted since his win at the 2023 PGA Championship. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Koepka had completed 28 rounds in majors without finishing in the top 10—a career-long drought.
“It’s good to finally have a solid round again. I’ve been working hard but had fallen into some bad habits,” Koepka stated. “Things were way off, but they’re starting to come together now.”
Coaching and Criticism
Koepka’s turnaround wasn’t without its challenges. On Monday, he received a tough lecture from his coach, Pete Cowen, during a practice session that lasted 45 minutes. It was such an intense interaction that fellow golfer Justin Thomas considered stepping in.
“I wasn’t thrilled about it, but it was something I needed to hear,” Koepka reflected after his round. “I prefer honesty over having people just agree with me. If I stray from what makes me successful, I want them to call me out. Cowen did a fantastic job.”
Other Competitors
Trailing Koepka by one stroke is Jon Rahm, another U.S. Open champion and LIV Golf player who has also struggled recently. Rahm managed to recover from +1 to -2, boosted by an eagle on the par-5 4th hole, but ultimately finished the day at -1.
Spaun set an early benchmark that held firm throughout the day, a notable feat for someone whose previous best finish at a major was T6 at the Masters in 2022. “Coming in without expectations may have helped me,” Spaun noted. “I just focused on what the course offered.”
Challenges Ahead
Only 10 players finished under par after the first round, hinting that the eventual winner will likely come from this elite group. Historically, recent U.S. Open champions were in the top seven after the first round, putting added pressure on other notable names like McIlroy and Scheffler. McIlroy had a rough second nine, finishing the day at +4, while Scheffler and Bryson DeChambeau trailed closely at +3.
“I really struggled with the green speed today,” DeChambeau explained. “I felt I could have easily scored better.” Scheffler analyzed the course strategically, emphasizing the importance of hitting fairways. “It’s about getting the ball into play off the tee,” he said.
A Mixed Day for Competitors
Among others, Si Woo Kim expressed his confusion about the course’s difficulty, stating, “I’m not even sure what I’m doing out here. It’s just very challenging for me.” Notably, he stands two strokes behind the leader at -2, mirroring Koepka’s score. When asked about the last time he received such harsh criticism, Koepka recalled, “Erin Hills,” the site of his 2017 U.S. Open win.
