Koepka captures U.S. Open
When American Brooks Koepka first hired caddie Ricky Elliot to carry his bag on Europe’s Challenge Tour, he told the Irishman: “Don’t worry, we won’t be here long.”
Koepka was true to his word and four years later he’s the U.S. Open champion.
On Sunday, the 27- yearold American broke free of a week-long logjam at the top of the leaderboard at Erin Hills with three consecutive birdies on the back nine to shoot a five-under 67 and claim his first major championship.
“That’s probably one of the coolest things I’ve ever experienced and to do it on Father’s Day, it’s pretty neat,” Koepka said after his round. “I didn’t exactly get my dad a card, so this works.”
His 16-under par total ties the all-time U.S. Open record, set by RoryMcIl roy in 2011. Teeing off in the second to last group, Koepka birdied his first two holes to get to 13- under par and the big American would never trail again.
Even with the three birdies in a row, it was a par save from nine feet at the 13th hole that Koepka credits for getting his round going.
“On 10 I just hit a poor putt, not enough speed, and 11 the same thing,” he said, underlining the importance the putt on 13. “When that happened it did give me a lot of confidence. So I think that was the changing point of the round.”
Third round leader Brian Harman had a share of the lead well into the afternoon until making back- to- back bogeys at hole Nos. 12 and 13. A hole ahead, and fresh off his par save, Koepka began his birdie binge.
That would be it for Harman, who couldn’t make up the ground and finished tied for second at 12- under par after shooting even par.
“I don’t believe in moral victories,” Harman said. “I had an opportunity today and I didn’t get it done. But at the same time I don’t feel like I lost a golf tournament, I think Brooks went out and won the tournament.”
It’s been a steady rise in the sport for Koepka, if not necessarily a straight one. After three all- American seasons at Florida State, the Florida- native decided to start his career in Europe instead of America. Three wins on the second-tier Challenge Tour over two months in 2013, earned him the right to jump to the European Tour. In 2014, he was named rookie of the year in Europe and was also nominated for rookie of the year honours on the PGA Tour after two top tens back home.
Growing up in Florida and with a great- uncle who played in the major leagues, Koepka’s first love was baseball, but somehow life led him onto the golf course. As recently as a couple of years ago he didn’t seem to thrilled about his career choice.
“If I could do it over again, I’d play baseball — 100 per cent, no doubt,” he told Golf Digest in 2015. “To be honest, I’m not a big golf nerd. Golf is kind of boring, not much action.”
Koepka credits watching Tiger Woods for getting him interested in golf and making the sport seem cool.
At Erin Hills on Sunday, the story of the day before the leaders teed off was the course itself. After three days of benign conditions, players woke up to a howling Wisconsin wind. It seemed as though fans waiting to watch their regularly scheduled U. S. Open bloodbath would finally get their wish.
The wide-open golf course relies on the wind as its greatest defence and those teeing off in the morning saw how difficult the course can play. Canada’s Adam Hadwin was out in the worst of it and shot an eight- over 80 to finish nine-over for the week.
Jordan Spieth was one of the few early players to post a score under par, shooting a three-under 69 to give him something to smile about despite a disappointing week.
“I thought it was a fantastic round of golf, given what we were dealing with to start the day,” Spieth said.
The wind settled down shortly after the leaders teed off and, although still more difficult than previous days, conditions were once again scoreable.
World No. 4 Hideki Matsuyama had the round of the day, making a charge from seven groups back. He shot a Sunday 66 and was in the clubhouse at 12- under par more than an hour before the leaders. It wasn’t nearly enough to catch Koepka, but it earned Matsuyama a tie for second place with Harman.
Two of t he f avourites heading into the final round were roomies Justin Thomas and Rickie Fowler, who began the day one and two shots off the lead respectively. The pair were sharing a house at Erin Hills but neither one will go home happy.
Thomas followed Saturday’s record- setting nineunder par 63 with a threeover 75 to finish eight shots back. “I felt like this was the lowest I could have shot,” he said of his disappointing score. “I just didn’t have it today.”
Koepka has just one win on the PGA Tour, but now has five top 10s and a win in 14 career major championships as a professional. With a 3-1 record on Team USA’s winning 2016 Ryder Cup team, Koepka had already earned a reputation as a big game player. On Sunday at Erin Hills, he earned a place in history.