Brooks Koepka has endured a difficult spell over the past couple of seasons, with his performances at the majors falling well below his usual standard. The five-time major champion, now part of the circuit, failed to make the cut at both and the PGA Championship earlier this year - after finishing outside the top 25 in all four majors in 2024.

These results clearly weighed on , who seemed unusually disheartened as his typically consistent play was disrupted by technical faults. However, at the at Oakmont, there's been a glimmer of revival. Koepka posted a strong opening round of 68, finishing with back-to-back birdies to reach two-under-par, tied for third place. Heading into Saturday's third round, he sits at two over par, tied for eighth, and just five shots adrift of leader Sam Burns. It's a promising sign for the 35-year-old, who won the US Open in 2017 and 2018. Nonetheless, it's clear that his recent form slump has taken a toll on both his professional and private lives.

"Yeah, I would say from the first weekend in April until about last week, you didn't want to be around me. It drove me nuts. It ate at me. I haven't been happy," he told reporters on Thursday. "It's been very irritating. It's a lot. I mean, I had to apologise - I've apologised to Rick, Pete, Jeff, Blake, my wife, my son, everybody. I wouldn't have wanted to be around me."

Shedding light on his struggles, he added: "I wasn't consistent enough. When I felt like I cut one, it was drawing. I felt like I blocked one, it would go straight. I just had no sense of reality of where things were.

"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.

"I had a putt on 16 to go one-under at almost the halfway mark, and just a weird little incident on 18. It happens. It's golf. Just got to deal with it and move on and try to play the best I can for these next two."

Koepka's improved play may be credited to a recent tough-love session with swing coach Pete Cowen, who gave him a no-nonsense 45-minute assessment during a practice round. This "scolding," as Koepka put it, was key in fixing issues with his club placement.

The changes clearly helped. His first-round 68 was his best round at a major for over a year. With more golf still to be played, Koepka has given himself a real chance of clinching a sixth major crown.

His openness in addressing the mental and technical hurdles he's faced demonstrates the determination that has defined his career. More than just chasing another title, this US Open offers Koepka the chance to draw a line under a testing chapter - on and off the course.