Major near miss gives confident Johnson runner-up Slam

BACK-TO-BACK Major runner-up efforts have given Dustin Johnson confidence in his game even as he settled for a career Runner-up Grand Slam by finishing second at the PGA Championship.

Brooks Koepka captured his fourth Major title and took back the world No. 1 ranking from Johnson despite serious pressure from his pal that saw a record seven-stroke lead trimmed to a single shot.

Koepka finished on eight-under 272 after a closing 74 for a two-shot victory at Bethpage Black.

Johnson, whose only Major win came at the 2016 US Open, has runner-up Major finishes at the 2011 British Open, 2015 US Open, last month’s US Masters and the PGA.

But he’s in good company with the “Secondplace Slam” alongside Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Greg Norman, Phil Mickelson, Louis Oosthuizen, Tom Watson and Craig Wood.

As dubious as it might sound, it’s a sign Johnson is right where he needs to be for another Major breakthrough soon.

“I’m pleased with where the game’s at, especially we’ve still got a lot of big tournaments left this year. I’m very happy with that,” Johnson said.

“I feel like my game has been pretty good all year. I felt like I really played well tee-to-green.”

Koepka began the final round with a PGA record seven-stroke lead.

No man led by so much so late and lost. But Johnson pounded away at Koepka and made him crack if not shatter fully.

“I knew starting seven back that it was going to be a big feat to catch Brooks. “I definitely gave him a run, though, so I was happy with that,” Johnson said.

“I knew it was going to play tough. The wind was up. It was the most wind we’ve had all week.

“I knew if I could get off to a good start, which I did, that I could maybe put a little bit of pressure on him and did that too.”

Koepka made four bogeys in a row through the par-three 14th and Johnson birdied 15 for the fourth day in a row to trail by only one. But he went over the green on 16 and made bogey then missed the green at the par-three 17th and made another bogey.

Once again so close but unable to win. “Just the last three holes is what got me,” Johnson said.

“I needed to play well finishing, but I gave it a run. That’s all you can ask for.”