U.S. Open: Brooks Koepka Scolding from Coach Prompted JT's Concern
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On Thursday, Brooks Koepka delivered a performance that reminded everyone why he's a five-time major champion. At Oakmont, where even the World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler struggled to find his rhythm, Koepka looked sharp.
His 2-under 68 put him placed him near the top of the leaderboard, just two strokes behind the leader J.J. Spaun on day one.
He started his round with a strong eagle on the 3rd hole and made two bogeys on the 10th and 14th hole.
But the LIV pro was quick to recover as he finished with back-to-back birdies on holes 17th & 18th.
It was a much-needed breakthrough. Koepka had been struggling for months, missing the cut at both the Masters and PGA Championship.
Despite holding five majors—two more than Scheffler and the same number as Rory McIlroy—his game had been off.
But heading into Oakmont, he revealed that hard work and a tough scolding from his coach, Pete Cowen, had finally paid off.
After his round on Thursday, before rushing off to watch the Stanley Cup Finals, Koepka shared how Cowen's harsh words even worried Justin Thomas.
OAKMONT, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 12: Justin Thomas (L) and Brooks Koepka of the United States meet on the 18th green during the first round of the 125th U.S. OPEN at Oakmont Country Club on June...
OAKMONT, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 12: Justin Thomas (L) and Brooks Koepka of the United States meet on the 18th green during the first round of the 125th U.S. OPEN at Oakmont Country Club on June 12, 2025 in Oakmont, Pennsylvania. (Photo by) More
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"I'll put it this way: JT thought he had to come check on me in the bunker."
"We were in there for about 45 minutes, and he was on the other side of the green. I saw him Monday night. We were at a Rolex function. He was like, 'I was worried; your head was down.'"
Koepka admitted that the conversation with Cowen was intense but necessary.
"Pete, I'll keep that between us. I wasn't happy with it, but it was something I think I needed to hear at the right time," he said.
"It's not the first time he's done it. He's not afraid to."
When asked when the last time Cowen had scolded him like this, Koepka didn't hesitate. "Erin Hills," he said, referring to the 2017 U.S. Open, where he won his first major.
"I'll put it this way: JT thought he had to come check on me in the bunker."
Brooks Koepka opened up about a heated conversation he had with his coach Pete Cowen, and how it helped him. pic.twitter.com/PgdZC4XNKn — GOLF.com (@GOLF_com) June 13, 2025
Koepka thrives on honesty. "I don't like having 'yes' people around me. I just want somebody to tell me the truth, tell me what's going on, what they see."
He added, "If I start swaying from being Brooks Koepka, then I want someone to call me out on it, and he did a helluva job on it."
His round performance suggests the tough love worked. "Yeah, I feel good. It's nice to put a good round together. It's been a while. I've been working hard, just got into some bad habits and bad swing positions."
"We worked pretty hard last week, Pete Cowen and Jeff Pierce were on me pretty good, and Pete got into me again on Monday, in the bunker for about 45 minutes. I just sat there, and he scolded me pretty well."
Koepka wasn't the only LIV Golf player making moves. Jon Rahm, another U.S. Open winner, finished at -1 thanks to an eagle on the par-5 4th.
Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau, the defending champion, struggled, carding a 3-over 73, leaving him seven shots back.
Koepka's turnaround is one of the biggest stories of the week. If his game continues to click, he could be on his way to a third U.S. Open title—and proving that sometimes, a tough scolding is exactly what a champion needs.
More Golf: Bryson DeChambeau's Oakmont Frustration Boils Over in Rant at U.S. Open
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