Second at The Masters was no fluke.

Despite being the winner of four majors, there were plenty that doubted Brooks Koepka as he faced Jon Rahm in the final pairing at Augusta last month.

Things didn’t go to plan at all for the 33-year-old former world number one, and his fate was sealed when a two-shot overnight lead turned into a deficit. Three bogeys in his front nine, and three more coming home meant a final round four-shot defeat to the then world number one. Koepka looked frustrated not only at Patrick Cantlay’s slow play but also in his own game.

A month is a long time in golf, though, and Koepka left the memory of that mini-collapse well behind with a dominant display at Oak Hill, coming home two shots to the good over 2022 Masters champion Scottie Scheffler and playing partner Viktor Hovland.

His final three rounds of 66/66/67 could have been even better but for scraping the edge of a handful of holes over the weekend, but he is unlikely to complain as he joined just 19 other golfers as a five-time major winner.

Koepka is all about mental strength – just ask his coach.

Legendary golf tutor Pete Cowan told The Guardian that his charge will win a lot more silverware now he is fit and back believing in himself.

“He will win a lot more,” said Cowan. “I certainly think he will go another four and he would obviously like a grand slam. Look at how many times he has been second or just missed out already. I thought he was an unbelievable player in 2018-2019 and he has got stronger.”

Should he get to nine, that would put Brooks alongside Ben Hogan and Gary Player.

Cowan dismisses any poor attitude on Koepka’s part, saying that injury affected him badly after the peak seasons of 2018 and 2019.

“I believed he could come back because he has always been comfortable in uncomfortable situations,” explained Cowan. “He looks as though he is going to beat you now, when he is coming down the stretch.

“He is not frightened of working, that’s for sure, and he couldn’t work when he was injured.”

Many believe that Koepka made the move to LIV Golf because he simply couldn’t see the day when he could be as good as he once was, but having now recorded the best major record of any player so far in 2023, he looks a certainty to make the Ryder Cup in September.

Whether he gets there via automatic selection or via a pick from captain Zach Johnson, Cowan believes both he and Dustin Johnson will tee it up at the Marco Simone.

“He would love to play in the Ryder Cup,” Cowen said. “I know Brooks and Dustin Johnson would love to play. I have spoken to them about it.” The caveat that, “I don’t think Jay would like him to play,” seems to mean little at the moment, with the golfing world generally ignoring politics to celebrate the return to form by one of its best.

Koepka is aware of the history of being the first LIV golfer to win a major, but says,

“Yeah, it’s a huge thing, but at the same time, I’m out here competing as an individual at the PGA Championship.”

Cowan seemed to have no doubts that his pupil had it in him. As they walked and talked at the pitching and putting ranges on Sunday, Koepka “was complaining about swinging poorly.” In reply, Cowan confirmed, “Your 70% will still win.”

It’s not all been sweetness and blowing air.

“I sat him down after watching him play all four rounds at the 2017 St Jude Classic,” the 72-year-old Yorkshireman said.

“I gave him a real talking to, said to him: ‘With that attitude, you’ll win nothing. Your talent is there, but your attitude is appalling. You have to have the attitude of a champion if you are going to be a champion.’

After Koepka’s first major victory, a four-shot win at Erin Hills at the 2017 US Open, he gave his man a commemorative signed flag.

“On the flag it says: ‘Thanks for the bollocking. I couldn’t have done it without you.’ He can take that from me. He doesn’t want a ‘yes’ man or his ego stroked.”

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