My Koepka runneth over
FIRST TITLE REPEAT IN 29 YEARS OF US OPEN
SOUTHAMPTON, New York – One was about power. The other was about patience.
Brooks Koepka has a game for the US Open no matter the course, no matter the test, no matter the circumstances.
He never lost hope when he began his title defense with a 75 and was seven-over par midway through the second round. He didn’t lose his mind in the most punishing third round of a US Open in nearly two decades.
And with a cool head and a hot putter, he didn’t give anyone a chance down the stretch Sunday at Shinnecock Hills.
Koepka pulled away from a four-way tie for the lead with three birdies in five holes, held off Tommy Fleetwood and his record-tying 63 and closed with a twounder 68 for a one-shot victory to become the first repeat US Open champion in 29 years.
“I don’t want to say I didn’t think I could do it,” Koepka said. “But I knew that it was going to be that much more difficult. And to finally do it, it’s much more gratifying the second time. I can really appreciate how hard it is to win a major.”
Koepka won with birdies on spacious Erin Hills last year. The signature moment from this US Open was a trio of putts to escape trouble on the back nine – two for par, one for bogey.