Remember when sports icons were defined solely by their championship victories? Michael Jordan’s six NBA titles, Tom Brady’s seven Super Bowls, or Bill Russell’s remarkable 11 rings? Well, it seems Brooks Koepka shares the same mindset when it comes to his legacy in golf. The five-time major champion recently opened up on The Joe Pomp Show, offering a glimpse into his championship mentality that has made him one of golf’s most fearsome competitors in major tournaments.

Since joining LIV Golf in June 2022 with a reported nine-figure signing bonus, Koepka has claimed just one major victory—the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill. While becoming the first LIV golfer to win a major was significant, his 2024 major performances fell well short of his own lofty standards, with no finish better than T26. Now, as the 2025 major season approaches, Koepka has made his championship ambitions crystal clear with a brutally honest assessment of what constitutes success in his eyes.

Brooks Koepka’s major championship obsession

“Four majors are where it’s at. It’s what you’re remembered by in history,” Koepka declared during his interview. The LIV Golf star didn’t mince words about his single-minded focus, comparing his philosophy to basketball legend Michael Jordan’s legacy: “Nobody asks MJ how many regular season wins he had.” This perspective illuminates why Koepka views regular tournaments as mere preparation for golf’s grandest stages.

For a player who captured five major championships in just six years (2017-2023), including back-to-back U.S. Open titles (2017-2018) and PGA Championships (2018-2019), this championship-or-bust mentality makes perfect sense. Despite winning LIV events in Singapore and Greenbrier in recent years, Koepka’s self-evaluation remains ruthlessly simple: “If I don’t win a major, I think it’s a failure. It’s not a good year.” Adding intrigue to his major championship pursuit, Koepka was recently spotted at Tiger Woods’s TGL event alongside PGA Tour stars Max Homa and Tom Kim, fueling speculation about a potential return to the PGA Tour as his LIV contract reportedly expires in 2025, coinciding with ongoing merger talks between the rival organizations.

When asked about his mental preparation for majors, Koepka revealed a frightening level of confidence that has served him well in pressure situations. “I’ll win that battle on everybody out here,” he stated, referring to his mental fortitude in major championships. This psychological edge has been central to his success, allowing him to maintain composure when others falter. Despite his OWGR ranking plummeting to 96th by the end of 2024 due to LIV Golf’s lack of ranking points, his self-belief remains unshaken.

The five-time major winner’s preparation appears methodical rather than mysterious. “It’s just a matter of making sure my ball striking is correct, the fundamentals are down… when I set up, I’m not questioning when I’m lined up,” Koepka explained. This technical foundation creates the platform for his mental game to flourish. According to Koepka, this combination of technical precision and psychological strength is rare in professional golf, as he noted that only a “small percentage” of competitors can maintain such consistency across multiple majors.

While Koepka remains laser-focused on major championships, his comments also highlighted a significant shift occurring in how golf reaches new audiences in the digital age.

YouTube is revolutionizing golf’s audience landscape

Golf’s traditionalist image has undergone a dramatic transformation in recent years, with social media influencers and YouTube content creators reshaping how the sport connects with younger audiences. With over 10 million subscribers combined, golf’s top YouTube personalities have built massive followings that rival traditional golf media outlets in reach and engagement.

Paige Spiranac, widely regarded as golf’s most influential social media personality with over 4 million Instagram followers, has pioneered this shift toward digital-first content. Meanwhile, golf personalities like Good Good Golf (2.3M subscribers) and Rick Shiels (2.5M subscribers) have built dedicated communities through instructional videos, course vlogs, and entertainment content that appeals to casual fans. 

Acknowledging this phenomenon, Koepka praised fellow competitor Bryson DeChambeau’s successful YouTube channel: “Bryson’s killed it on YouTube. He’s doing a great job…for himself, for his team.” DeChambeau’s channel has attracted over 600,000 subscribers with content that provides behind-the-scenes access to a top player’s life and training regimen, creating direct connections to fans that weren’t possible in previous eras. Koepka even noted how this digital influence has spread into his own family, saying, “My brother talks about these guys, Kai and all these YouTubers,” referencing how digital creators have built enormous followings through their entertainment content, transcending traditional media boundaries and attracting audiences across multiple sports.

As Koepka prepares for the 2025 major season, beginning with the Masters at Augusta National (April 10-13) and followed by the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow (May 15-18), his singular focus remains on adding to his major championship tally. His recent performances at LIV Golf events have shown improvement, with a T7 finish in Adelaide indicating his game may be rounding into form at the right time.

Will Koepka capture another major in 2025 to satisfy his own definition of success? The comments section is all yours to speculate and share your thoughts.