Brooks Koepka hasn’t been able to catch a break on the golf course lately, and critics haven’t missed an opportunity either. With missed cuts and poor performances stacking up this season, the five-time major champion has found himself under intense scrutiny in 2025. But amid all that noise, Koepka received some unexpected appreciation this week, not just from any fan but from a sporting legend.

During the 2025 BMW PGA Championship Pro-Am at Wentworth, Brooks Koepka was caught on camera giving short-game tips to Olympic hockey gold medallist Samantha Quek, guiding her on using wedges from tight lies. Former England football captain John Terry, who played alongside them, was so impressed that he commented on the DP World Tour’s post, writing, “@bkoepka Was pure class the whole round 👏💙 Giving time and tips is priceless 🏌🏻‍♂️.” Samantha Quek is a 2016 Olympic hockey gold medallist and TV presenter. She joined Brooks Koepka’s group at the BMW PGA Championship Pro-Am. In a standout moment, Koepka gave her short-game tips, reflecting the respect between top athletes and his generosity in sharing knowledge beyond competition.

It was a surprising yet welcome sight, especially considering the week Koepka was coming off. Just last week, he’d missed the cut at the 2025 Irish Open, and chose to unwind with a few beers and friends instead of sulking about his form. Koepka fired a horrendous round of 80 on the second day at the K Club last week, a continuation of what has been a rather disastrous season for the five-time major champion.

Even this week, at the opening round of the 2025 BMW PGA Championship on Thursday, Brooks Koepka shot an uninspired 3-over-par round, leaving him tied for 126th — a far cry from the dominant player who was once the World No.1 (2018). Koepka even missed the cut in three of four majors on the PGA Tour this year, despite a strong tied 12th finish at the U.S. Open. Not just his performances on majors, but his decline on LIV, too, has whispers about his slump growing louder.

This season, Brooks Koepka had only two top 10 finishes on LIV, in Adelaide and Singapore (2nd), and finished 31st in the individual points standings with only 45.13 points. In the last six events of the 2025 season, Koepka’s form hit the worst in the season as he was unable to score even a single point. With this decline, critics have constantly been questioning whether his decision to join LIV Golf has come at the cost of his edge, and the numbers this season haven’t done much to refute that. He even missed playing in the Ryder Cup for the first time since 2016.

Brooks Koepka’s slump cost him the Ryder Cup

Brooks Koepka’s struggles in 2025 didn’t just hurt his confidence but also cost him a place on the Ryder Cup. Despite being a five-time major champion and a key presence in past Ryder Cup battles, Koepka failed to make the U.S. team this year, finishing a distant 76th on the US Ryder Cup points list. Even with his decorated resume, there was no realistic path to a captain’s pick. His form simply didn’t warrant it. A string of missed cuts and a lackluster showing on the LIV Golf season, with no top-10s since March, made it easy for Keegan Bradley to keep the American star out.

But what made it even more striking was Koepka’s honesty about the snub. Rather than deflect or complain, he accepted responsibility with refreshing candor. “I played my way off [the Ryder Cup team], so I can’t be disappointed,” he said ahead of the Irish Open last week. “I haven’t played very good this year. It’s felt good and then its completely disappeared. It ebbs and flows. Golf’s crazy,” Koepka added.

The admission spoke volumes and displayed a more introspective side of Koepka, one that seems to be learning to accept the ebbs and flows of the game. Missing the Ryder Cup may have been the final confirmation of how far his form has fallen, but it also might be the turning point he needs to start climbing back. He’s scheduled to play again on the DP World Tour next month at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St. Andrews, offering another chance to steady the ship before the year ends.