Matsuyama’s best not quite good enough behind Koepka

erin, wis.» On the last day of the 117th U.S. Open, Hideki Matsuyama was better than everyone else. Better than Brian Harman, Rickie Fowler, Justin Thomas and the rest of the congested leaderboard. Just not good enough. Matsuyama shot a 6-under-par 66 on Sunday to pull within one of the lead, but Brooks Koepka birdied three consecutive holes to pull away to his first major championship. The 25-year-old Japanese star had two of the best rounds of the tournament — he shot a 7-under 65 on Friday — but a 2-over 74 in his opening round loomed large as the scores got lower and lower at a forgiving Erin Hills.

“You’ve got to put four good rounds together,” Matsuyama said through an interpreter. “I played two good rounds, but it wasn’t enough.”

Matsuyama’s 66 was the best score on a windy final day, one stroke better than Koepka’s closing 67. The average score in the fourth round was 73.9.

But Matsuyama had to settle for a tie for second place with Harman, four strokes behind the 27-year-old champion.

“I played really well today,” said Matsuyama, who watched Koepka close out his title on a TV in the clubhouse. “Came up a little bit short. No regrets, but I did play well.”

Matsuyama got off to a fast start with three birdies in his first five holes, including a 41-foot putt from just off the green on No. 4. He was 2-under at the turn, and then really poured it on when he hit the back nine.

Matsuyama had five birdies and one bogey in his final eight holes. He set up a short birdie putt with a nice chip on 18, then waited around for the leaders to finish.

“I learned a lot this week,” he said. “Hopefully, though, in the future, in majors, I can play in the either last or next to last group to give myself a better chance. But I’m happy with the way I played, and it gives me confidence going forward.”

It was Matsuyama’s best finish in a major, another high in a topsy-turvy season.

He defended his title at the popular Phoenix Open in February, defeating Webb Simpson in a playoff at TPC Scottsdale. He tied for 11th place at the Masters, but his game dropped off a bit from there.

After tying for 45th at the Memorial last month, Matsuyama arrived at Erin Hills on a downturn. But he seemed to get back on track in the second round, with birdies on six of his first eight holes.

An uneven finish Saturday also hurt his chances. He had three bogeys and two birdies on the back nine, finishing with a 1-under 71.

“I’m glad the fairways were wide, but there were some really difficult holes out there, and I’m glad I played as well as I did,” Matsuyama said.