Golf is fun again for Brooks Koepka.
The star golfer and his wife, model and influencer Jena Sims, dealt with a tragic miscarriage last year that the golfer has indirectly said affected his performance, leaving him “very frustrated.”
This year, Koepka feels much more at peace while on the links and it’s allowed the game to feel more natural to the five-time major champion.
“We had a lot of family issues go on last year. It was noted, and that took a toll on me. It definitely took a toll on Jena,” Koepka said after shooting a 1-under 69 Thursday in the first round of the PGA Championship. “That was kind of tough to deal with. Yeah, I mean, at home it’s in a much better place. It’s easier to come out to work when everything at home lines up. Everything’s a lot better. Last year was just difficult personally with what was going on off the golf course, nothing to do on it. It was just off.
“So, yeah, just being in a better place. It’s exciting. It’s a little bit of a fresh start as well. I think that’s a big piece of it. Yeah, when all that kind of lines up, it makes it enjoyable to be out here.”
Koepka, 36, and Sims, 37, share a 2-year-old son, Krew, and Sims revealed last October that they suffered a miscarriage.
She shared a photo on Instagram of the sonogram, stating she opened up on the tragedy to provide support to others who dealt with pregnancy loss.
“At 16 weeks, we learned that our baby’s heart had stopped beating,” Sims wrote. “This is a grief no parent is ever prepared for. We are devastated, but remain hopeful to give Crew a sibling one day.
“Too often, these struggles happen in silence. There is still so much work and research needed to better understand and support women’s reproductive health. If you’re experiencing or have experienced pregnancy loss or infertility, please know you are not alone. 💔.”
As the married couple had their world shook, Koepka endured a rough 2025 on the course.
He failed to win a single tournament during the season and he missed the cut at three of the four major championships, with his best showing coming in a 12th-place finish at the U.S. Open.
The need to be close to his family after the miscarriage ultimately helped push Koepka to leave LIV Golf and return to the PGA Tour earlier this year.
“Just my family,” Koepka said in January, per Golf.com. “A lot’s gone on over the past five, six months with my family. That played a big role into coming back.
“Just having my family around’s really important. I’ve grown up a lot over the last few years and especially the last few months. Just being able to be close to them is super important to me.”
That decision has seemingly paid off, with Koepka now mentioning in consecutive weekends how much he’s enjoying himself.
He finished tied for 11th at last week’s Myrtle Bech Classic and beamed afterward.
“That’s the most excited I’ve been playing golf in a long, long time,” Koepka said, per Golf.com. “I can tell you that much. I would say back until ’23, the PGA. That’s the most — it’s been a long time since I’ve had fun playing golf. I was very frustrated last year. Just wasn’t in a good place, but I think a lot of times when you — it’s like anybody, right? If they’re happy off the golf course, they’re going to play well on the golf course. I think that’s a huge, huge piece of it, and I’ve found that.”
Koepka missed the cut at last year’s PGA Championship but entered Friday’s Round 2 in a good spot just two shots off the lead and tied for 15th.
Koepka has been solid tee to green since rejoining the PGA Tour, however he has struggled putting.
“Yeah, I feel good. Every round just seems to be the worst I can shoot,” Koepka said. “Putter is absolutely horrendous. Ball striking is absolutely phenomenal. That’s been the story of the year.
“Hopefully we can figure out a way to turn this around.”
