NO MORE FLYING UNDER THE RADAR FOR DOUBLE TITLE-WINNER KOEPKA
American proves his mettle by defending US Open crown at brutal Shinnecock Hills course
Brooks Koepka was practically the last name on anyone’s lips at the 118th US Open on Thursday – but that did not matter when he hoisted the trophy for a second straight year three days later.
The defending champion had been flying under the radar at Shinnecock Hills, where Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, world No 1 Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy were generating pre-tournament buzz.
“I always feel like I’m overlooked. It doesn’t bug me. I just keep doing what I’m doing, keep plugging away,” said Koepka.
Some thought the American’s US Open triumph at Erin Hills last year was an anomaly, coming on a non-traditional championship venue where the wide-open fairways were easy pickings for a big-hitter such as Koepka.
And since his major breakthrough, the 28-year-old golfer had missed almost four months – including the US Masters in April – with a partially torn ligament in his left wrist.
There is no doubt now, however, that Koepka is back and he has proved his mettle on the toughest test the US Open can offer.
After four grinding days at Shinnecock Hills – which first hosted a US Open in the 19th century – it was Koepka who topped the leaderboard with a one-over par total.
Woods and McIlroy were long gone by then – missing the cut, along with other star names including Sergio Garcia, Jordan Spieth and Jason Day.
Johnson, masterful in building a four-stroke lead through 36 holes, came back to the field during the brutal third round – when Mickelson underscored his irrelevance with a controversial rules infraction.
As Koepka emerged from a tightly bunched field on Sunday, Johnson simply could not keep pace.
Even Tommy Fleetwood, with a stunning 63, could not run Koepka down as the Englishman, the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship champion for the past two years, fell short by one shot.
“I don’t want to say I didn’t think I could do it, but I knew that it was going to be that much more difficult,” Koepka said of winning a second major. “It’s much more gratifying the second time. I can really appreciate how hard it is to win a major and to win back-to-back is special.”
Koepka, who has now finished 14th or better – with two wins – in nine of his last 10 major starts, was running hot with a streak of eight straight US PGA Tour top-20 finishes when his wrist injury sidelined him. “I didn’t miss it until I knew I wasn’t going to be at Augusta,” he said. When I knew I wasn’t going to be at Augusta, probably about a week before, I really did miss it.
“I missed the preparation. I miss competing. I’ve got to be competing at something. It doesn’t matter what it is. I just feel like I need to be out grinding.”
He has barely missed a beat in his return, finishing tied for 11th at the Players Championship last month and runner-up at the Fort Worth Invitational with three rounds of 67 or better as he warmed up for his title defence. Now that he is a multiple major winner, Koepka – who jumped from ninth to fourth in the world golf rankings with his win – is unlikely to be flying under the radar when any major comes around, with the next one, the British Open, taking place at Carnoustie from July 19.
“A US Open is always going to be a tough test,” he said. “The [British] Open Championship I think suits [my game] very well, and we always seem to play good at the PGA.
“The only one I haven’t figured out is Augusta – hopefully I’ll figure that one out soon.”
It’s much more gratifying the second time. I can appreciate how hard it is to win a major and to win back-to-back is special BROOKS KOEPKA