HE’LL DEFEAT LIVERPOOL
Brooks is back and short-game guru says: Hoylake? It’s an Open goal
BROOKS KOEPKA is set for another period of domination after landing his fifth Major victory at the US PGA.
And his renowned Yorkshire-born short game coach Pete Cowen insists the LIV Golf star – and Manchester United fan – will now win The Open at Royal Liverpool.
Koepka, the new world No.13, won four Majors in 23 months and appeared unstoppable en route to his previous Major win at the 2019 US PGA.
Since then he has undergone two knee surgeries, a crisis of confidence and joined the Saudi-backed breakaway league.
But after his near miss at The Masters in April, where he admitted he choked, the 33-year-old Floridian was back to his swaggering best at Oak Hill defeating the world’s golfing elite by two shots.
Koepka becomes only the 20th man to win five Majors – and the first born after 1975. Since Sir Nick Faldo, only Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson have won as many.
He is only the third player to win the US PGA three times in a six-year span along with legends Jack Nicklaus and Walter Hagen.
And Cowen, who famously gave Koepka a “b ***** king” before his first Major win at the 2017 US Open, is confident he will now go on another roll.
“Getting back his fitness was the key,” said the coach. “He couldn’t do it 18 months ago. He was in a bad way mentally and physically. He has shown such strength of character, determination and mind to get back.
“He will go on another streak. He has already started. Second and first in the last two Majors.
“The Open at Hoylake, I think he will win that. He knows when to attack, when to defend. He and Ricky will sort that one out quite nicely.”
His caddie, Northern Irishman Ricky Elliott, added: “Now he is back fit, there is no doubt he can go on a streak again.”
And Koepka, who hailed Californian teaching pro Michael Block (left) on his fairytale championship which included a final-round holein-one, issued an ominous warning to his rivals. “I want to keep doing what I’m doing. It’s working so far,” he said. “Back to having a chance pretty much every time I tee it up.”
Speaking in the caddie lounge with a Lite beer after the trophy ceremony, Elliott added: “He loves it in the UK. He has got an Irish caddie, an English coach.
“He started his golf over there on the Challenge Tour and still says it was his happiest time. He likes brown sauce and football. He supports Manchester United because of me!”
LIV boss Greg Norman was quick to tweet he was “proud” of their first Major winner while Kopeka’s victory lifts him up to second spot in the Ryder Cup rankings.
New world No.1 Scottie Scheffler, who finished tied second with Viktor Hovland, said: “I want to win the Ryder Cup. I don’t care about tours or anything like that.”