Brooks Koepka’s 2025 season has been a stark contrast to his form displayed in earlier years. After a resurgent 2023 campaign that saw him finish T2 at the Masters and win the PGA Championship at Oak Hill for his fifth major title, his form has since declined. In 2024, Koepka made the cut in all four majors but failed to crack the top 25, with his best finishes being T26 at both the PGA Championship and the U.S. Open. The inconsistency continued into 2025.

In the LIV Golf League this year, Koepka’s finishes have been underwhelming: T33 in Riyadh, T7 in Adelaide, and T35 in Hong Kong. At the 2025 Masters, Koepka missed the cut after a second-round collapse that included a quadruple-bogey on the 18th hole—an uncharacteristic mistake for a player known for his clutch performances in majors.

These struggles come at a time when analysts are openly questioning Koepka’s place among the game’s elite. On Golf Channel’s 5 Clubs, Gary Williams put it plainly: “Where is someone like Brooks Koepka, and also, where is someone like Jon Rahm as we head toward this second major championship? I mention those two guys because at the beginning of the year—and again, it can be a little bit precarious to be presumptuous about the performance of players in this sport—we thought that Brooks Koepka would be on the United States Ryder Cup team. We thought, most certainly, that Jon Rahm would be on the European team. And I will still say, most certainly, Jon Rahm is going to represent Europe.”

Koepka’s Ryder Cup prospects, too, are shaky this year. He currently sits 86th in the U.S. Ryder Cup rankings, far outside the top six automatic qualification spots. His involvement in LIV Golf events, which don’t count toward Ryder Cup points, has hindered his standing. While Koepka remains eligible for a captain’s pick, it’s unclear if he will be chosen, especially with Keegan Bradley serving as team captain in 2025. The final roster will be set after the BMW Championship in August 2025. Meanwhile, Rahm, currently 37th in the European Ryder Cup standings, remains eligible only while appealing DP World Tour sanctions for playing in LIV events without approval.

Then, Williams added, “But I think Brooks Koepka has got work to do. He’s got to do what he always does—and that is, stand tallest in major championships. His next opportunity comes in a couple of weeks.” Koepka seems to recognize that a reset is needed. Ahead of the 2025 LIV season, he parted ways with longtime swing coach Claude Harmon III again.

The two had split in 2020 before reuniting in 2022. What was the outcome? Another major title and five LIV victories! Their relationship began in 2013, with Harmon guiding Koepka to four major titles and the world No. 1 ranking during a peak stretch from 2017 to 2019. This second split was confirmed via a text to Golfweek: “Pete Cowen and Jeff Pierce will be handling everything golf-related.” Cowen and Pierce, previously responsible for Koepka’s short game and putting, now oversee his entire golf game.

With a restructured coaching team and a clear drive to improve, Koepka is signaling that he’s not done competing at the highest level, but the effort is taking time to translate into major titles in 2025. While he is preparing to improve his form, more voices in the golf world whisper that his days among the game’s elite may be fading.

Golf analysts believe Koepka is no longer on the level of J.T. or Spieth

Looking back on his 2025 major performances, Brooks Koepka didn’t sugarcoat a thing: “This year has not been great. This year has been actually very disappointing. I haven’t played anywhere what I want to play.” He doubled down with brutal honesty, saying, “Played absolutely horrible in all the majors and only won once out here, so that’s not anywhere where I want it.” It’s a rare moment of vulnerability from one of golf’s fiercest competitors, laying bare the frustration behind the fierce exterior.

So, on the Golf on CBS podcast, Patrick McDonald and Shane questioned whether Brooks Koepka still belongs in the top tier of American golfers. The discussion began with McDonald wondering aloud, “Do we wanna give Justin Thomas the best American player of his generation (title)?” Shane, after a recent conversation with Andy Johnson, said, “I still gotta lean Spieth,” citing his three different major wins and career longevity.

They contrasted that with Koepka’s arc. “Koepka’s run was about five years,” Shane said. “And Brooks is a player we really don’t talk about anymore, even in the major championships as we get closer to them.” It’s hard to argue, as only the 2023 PGA Championship stands out. Then, despite four LIV Golf wins, his 2025 form and 315th place in the OWGR reflect a player no longer feared on golf’s biggest stages.

Shane added that the golf generations now feel shorter, about five years, due to the rapid turnover in talent. While players like Rory McIlroy and Phil Mickelson have shown sustained excellence, Koepka’s prime appears to be behind him—unless he can reignite his major spark this year.