Rise and rise of American major event winner

New US Open champion Brooks Koepka became the seventh successive first-time winner of a major with his victory at Erin Hills. Here we take a look at the man behind the golfer.

UNLUCKY BREAK

As a 10-year-old Koepka sustained a broken nose and fractures to his sinus cavity when he was involved in a car accident, resulting in him being banned from playing contact sports for the summer. He took up golf as a suitable alternative.

GOLF’S NOT HIS DREAM JOB

Despite his success Koepka is not a golf nerd and says “golf is kind of boring”. Given the choice he would have been a baseball player like his great uncle Dick Groat, a World Series winner with Pittsburgh Pirates and the St Louis Cardinals. He is also a fan of “proper football” and names Manchester United as his favourite team.

SIBLING RIVALRY

Brooks has a brother called Chase, who is also a professional golfer. However, whereas Brooks has just broken into the world’s top 10 Chase is 865 places behind. The pair played with each other in April’s Zurich Classic, a two-person team event. They finished tied fifth.

FAMOUS FOOTSTEPS

Koepka failed to earn a PGA Tour card at the 2012 qualifying school, missing out by three strokes in the second stage alongside Jordan Spieth, whom he is now only one behind in terms of major wins. Koepka went to play on the Challenge Tour and graduated to the European Tour and was named rookie of the year for both the European and PGA Tours in 2015.

SIGNIFICANT OTHER

Koepka’s girlfriend, Jena Sims, is a former Miss Georgia Teen pageant winner who moved into acting and has worked with the likes of Morgan Freeman, Robert De Niro and Michael Douglas in the film Last Vegas. Her work in television includes appearances in Entourage, Dexter, Vampire Diaries, CSI and One Tree Hill.