Koepka resets course record

Three majors in two years, and Brooks Koepka can still feel as though he has something to prove.

He delivered again on golf’s biggest stage. And this time, Tiger Woods was along for the ride.

Koepka beat up on brawny Bethpage Black for a record-setting start to his title defense in the PGA Championship. With a 40-foot birdie to start his round and a birdie putt from just inside 35 feet at the end, he shot a 7-under 63 to break the course record and become the first player to shoot 63 in the same major twice.

“That was one of the best rounds I’ve played probably as a professional,” Koepka said. “This golf course is brutal.”

He was 10 shots better than the average score in the opening round, but only one better than Danny Lee on a day when only 16 players broke par, the fewest for the first round of the PGA Championship since 2008 at Oakland Hills. It was only one round, but enough to make the Masters that Woods won last month feel more nostalgic than a sign of more to come.

“I felt like I won this last year. I’m playing good,” Koepka said. “It was great that Tiger won Augusta, but I mean, we’re at a new week now.”

Thousands of fans were drawn to Woods, a Masters champion again, announced on the 10th tee as the PGA champion from 1999, 2000, 2006 and 2007.

The introduction took long enough to remind everyone what Woods has done in the game. Koepka then showed what he has done lately — back-toback U.S. Open titles, a PGA Championship and an ideal start in his bid to join Woods as the only backto-back winners of the PGA Championship. /