US Open Fleetwood equals record with 63 but finishes second to Koepka

American digs deep to retain his US Open title Englishman’s 63 in vain as he loses by one shot

Sir Nick Faldo believed Tommy Fleetwood had done enough to win his first major here after his recordequalling 63 and so, too, did the bookmakers who made the young Englishman the long odds-on favourite going into the enthralling final hour of the 118th US Open.

But they had not reckoned on the talent and remarkable resilience of Brooks Koepka, the 28-year-old American who became just the third player since the war – following Ben Hogan and Curtis Strange – to defend his title.

Just when it appeared Fleetwood was on the brink of emulating Justin Rose’s success five years ago, so Koepka proceeded to produce a succession of stunning saves before the crucial birdie on the 16th which afforded him the comfort to bogey the 18th to win by a shot on oneover after a 68.

Fleetwood must console himself with a cheque for $1.2 million (£904,000), a place in the world’s top 10 and of a share of history. Only five players before had shot a 63 before in the major known as “golf ’s ultimate test”. Yet it could so easily have been a 62 – not to mention a play-off. The 27-year-old from Southport could have set up an exclusive US Open club of his very own. He was presented with a ninefooter for a birdie on the 18th that would have been just the second 62 in the majors after Branden Grace’s breakthrough at Royal Birkdale 12 months ago.

Alas, Fleetwood’s effort dribbled agonisingly wide. ”I knew what it was for and I started it on the line I wanted to, but it was a little bit slower than I thought,” Fleetwood said. His seven-under magnificence – the lowest round of the week by two shots – left Fleetwood on two over and in for a long wait, with the leaders just starting the back nine. At one stage his success seemed so likely, that Faldo tweeted: “I’ll be surprised if Tommy does not win.”

It was reminiscent of the 1993 US Open when Jack Nicklaus shook the hand of Colin Montgomerie and told him he had won, despite the pacesetters not having reached the meat of their rounds. Nicklaus had over-estimated the brutality of the Pebble Beach run-in on that occasion and Faldo did the same here.

But due to the rank failings of the organisers that was eminently forgivable on Faldo’s behalf. The USGA plainly panicked after the Saturday shambles – in which Fleetwood shot a 78 – and applied so many thousands gallons of water to take the sting out of the layout. In truth, it seemed a different course.

Fleetwood was not moaning, taking inspiration from his fourth place in the US Open in 2017 to launch his

Koepka became just the third player since the war – after Hogan and Strange – to defend his title

unlikely challenge. There were four birdies on the front nine, as well as a costly bogey on the ninth, but it was from the 12th where he lit the fireworks. He reeled off a spectacular quartet. There was an 18-footer on the 12th, an approach to two feet on the 13th, a chip-in on the 14th and a 30-footer on the 15th.

“I never thought I was out of it, I just needed a good start,” he said. “We knew they would have made it a bit softer and the pins were more accessible. Four under through seven and it was game on. It was great to get it going on the back nine. I always felt I could get myself back in it but when you finish you are always going to be just short.”

It means the Americans have won the last five majors and when they have a player of the calibre of Koepka – who along with Rory Mcilroy and Jordan Spieth becomes the only player currently under 30 years of age to have won multiple