Koepka’s incredible comeback
KOEPKA: FROM SITTING ON COUCH TO THREE-TIME MAJOR CHAMP IN NO TIME
Sitting on a couch watching the Masters on TV with an injured left wrist, Brooks Koepka never dreamed he would win two Majors this year, much less battle his boyhood idols.
But the 28-year-old American did just that, successfully defending his title at the US Open in June and taking his third Major on Sunday at the PGA Championship by two strokes over Tiger Woods.
“When I look at what I’ve done in the past two months, it’s incredible,” Koepka said.
“Looking where I was, sitting on my couch watching the Masters, to think I would do this, I would have laughed at you.”
As impressive as his long drives was Koepka’s coolness under pressure.
“When I show up to the Majors I’m very focused, very disciplined,” he said.
“For some reason they get my attention. When you’re firing at flags you have to be calm and focus on every shot.”
To battle Woods and 2013 Masters winner Adam Scott, an Australian who took third, was a dream for Koepka, who idolised both in his youth.
“To duel it out with them, it’s pretty neat. I don’t think I ever dreamed of that situation I was in,” Koepka said. “It was surreal.”
Woods was impressed with Koepka’s skill.
“It’s tough to beat when the guy hits it 340 yards down the middle,” Woods said of Koepka. “When a guy’s doing that and hitting it straight and as good a putter as he is, it’s tough to beat.”
“What has been interesting to watch is how much of a big time player he is,” Scott said. “I’d just keep doing what he’s doing because he’s showing up at the right moments in the biggest events. He’s got that mindset.”
Koepka has won three Majors in 14 months, the fastest such run since Ireland’s Padraig Harring- ton took the 2007 British Open and 2008 British Open and PGA.
Koepka was most proud of a 247-yard tee shot to six feet that set up a birdie at the par-three 16th hole.
“I hit a laser right at the flag,” he said. “That will probably go down as probably one of the best shots I’ve ever hit under pressure.”
And he felt pressure as the roars for Woods reverberated across the course.
“You could hear a different roar like every 30 seconds,” Koepka said.
“I knew even when everybody was making that charge, if I just hung in there, made one good shot at a time, kept it rolling, I was going to have a chance to separate myself,” Koepka said. “And that finally came.” –