Brooks Koepka didn’t dare close his eyes on April 10, 2023. Back home at midnight after a humiliating Masters defeat—where he lost to Jon Rahm by four shots—the then almost 33-year-old asked his high-school friend, Dan Gambill, to follow him. Sometime later, the usually empty porch found a new lease on life. Amid sudden bursts of rain, and the cool air breezing through, the duo practiced. They practiced hard. They practiced every single shot from Koepka’s final round earlier that day. Because that’s exactly the kind of person Koepka was. Stoic, undeterred, loyal, and the best at his craft.

Exactly one month later, the all-nighter finally fell worth it. The two-time US Open champion became the first LIV golfer to win the PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club. Reflecting on what he had learned that night, the veteran golfer had declared with a smirk, “I reflect more on the losses, trying to figure out why. Why certain events happened. Why I hit it here. Why was the execution wrong? What was the thought process? What went awry? So we just narrowed it down and we figured it out.” Truth be told, it did seem like a foolproof plan for a while. But lately, the more years pass with Koepka within the LIV Golf circuit, the harder it’s become to wash off the stain on both his reputation and his talents.

Largely because while PGA loyalists might still choose to forgive and forget Koepka’s LIV Golf betrayal, moments like the 2025 PGA Championships still make detractors go, “Karma is a b—-!” As things stand, Koepka’s performance at the event has sharply contrasted his previous successes (and wins in ’18, ’19 and ’23). Once a powerful force, he started on the back nine and is presently 4-over through 11 holes, including a double bogey at No. 1 and a bogey at No. 2. At No. 3, his tee shot landed in difficulty, indicating more setbacks. What’s more? This is not an isolated incident.

While he won twice on LIV last year, Koepka hasn’t placed higher than T17 in any major since winning the 2023 PGA Championship. His downfall was also particularly visible at this year’s Augusta National with a missed cut owing to a substandard 18th hole. This is from the same man who once asserted, “Majors are the easiest to win.” The reality? The former world number one’s OWGR that currently lingers at a lowly 354th. His involvement in LIV Golf, which does not award OWGR points, can be blamed for this drop, but Koepka’s own introspection also suggests internal conflict.

“This is the worst I’ve ever struggled in my whole life. I have to figure out how to get out of this thing before it gets too late,” he said candidly, which was featured in Netflix’s Full Swing documentary, which chronicled his struggle with injuries and declining self-esteem. His domination had been undermined by setbacks and persistent knee problems, which prompted self-reflection and self-doubt. This raw reflection highlighted Koepka’s challenges in reclaiming his form and his urgency to overcome them before it was too late. Such acknowledgments highlight the potential psychological cost of his professional decisions. As Koepka’s game falters, fans across social media have turned his struggles into a viral spectacle of mockery and regret.

Fans React: Mockery and disappointment surround Koepka’s downfall

When it comes to Koepka’s drop, the golf community hasn’t held back. “I think I have to stop betting on Brooks Koepka. Since winning the 2023 PGA, he’s gone T-17, T-64, T-45, T-26, T-26, T-43, MC and now looks on his way to another MC. Not saying this majors machine is finished, but it’s broken down right now,” one fan wrote on Twitter. Koepka has had poor major results after winning the 2023 PGA Championship. This decrease is similar to Jon Rahm’s difficulties with LIV Golf. Although Rahm has consistently finished in the top 10 in LIV events, his major results have deteriorated, including a T45 at the Masters and a missed cut at the 2024 PGA Championship, which has caused him to fall out of the OWGR top 50 for the first time since 2017.

Another remark said, “He’s done! Exhibition events have ruined him,” referring to the idea that the LIV Golf model doesn’t have the same competitive advantage as regular circuits. A fan also said, “Phil Mickelson and Brooks Koepka are so cooked,” putting Koepka in the same category as other veterans who were thought to be past their best. Phil Mickelson also finished close to the bottom of the leaderboard at the 2025 PGA Championship after shooting a 79 in the opening round. He also missed the cut at the 2025 Masters with a +5 over two rounds. Mickelson’s recent performance indicates that his competitive advantage in majors has significantly decreased, despite his remarkable career that included six major victories.

“Brooks Koepka playing on the LIV Tour has turned him into a chump in the majors. @PGAChampionship #QuailHollow,” one person wrote, emphasizing the alleged harm caused by his career change. Koepka’s performance at the 2025 Masters highlighted his ongoing struggles in major tournaments. Despite a promising eagle on the 15th hole, a disastrous quadruple bogey on the 18th led to a second-round 75, resulting in a missed cut at +5. This outcome underscores Koepka’s challenges in translating his LIV Golf successes to major championships. “Death by LIV RIP Brooks Koepka. What a golfer Brooks was – he’ll be missed…#PGAChampionship,” said another, implying that once a dominant force with 4 majors before LIV—including back-to-back U.S. Opens and PGAs—Koepka’s significant legacy feels distant now.

These responses support a developing theory that Koepka’s competitive legacy may have suffered as a result of his quest for financial gain through LIV Golf. Do you agree?