Koepka strikes back to defend US Open title
New York: Prop American Brooks Koepka defended his US Open title with a one-shot victory over England’s record-equalling Tommy Fleetwood at Shinnecock Hills. Koepka closed with a two-under-par 68 to top the leaderboard at one over and deny Fleetwood a first major title.
Fleetwood had set the clubhouse lead at two over after a scintillating seven-under-par 63 - the joint lowest round in US Open history. World number one Dustin Johnson shot a 70 to finish third on three over. England’s Justin Rose, who began the day one shot off of a four-way tie for the lead, finished tied for 10th on seven over after a three-over 73. Koepka, who claimed his first major at Erin Hills last year, became the first player to defend the US Open title since Curtis Strange won in 1988 and 1989.
“This is incredible. I don’t think I could have dreamed of going back-to-back. It’s truly special and I am honoured,” said the 28-year-old.
“I always felt like I had a chance. I was never out of it. I just needed to keep grinding. I knew the conditions would ease up a bit and I took advantage of it.”
Fleetwood, who eclipsed his fourth place at last year’s US Open, took full advantage of the favourable course set-up for the final round at the course on Long Island in the state of New York.
The world number 12 became the sixth golfer to shoot 63 in the US Open- joining Justin Thomas, Vijay Singh, Tom Weiskopf, Johnny Miller and Jack Nicklaus- and was one short of matching the all-time major record of 62 set by South Africa’s Branden Grace.