NERVOUS TIMES

“This one’s definitely at the top of the list in how emotionally spent I am and how mentally spent I am. I’m just glad we didn’t have to play any more holes, that was a stressful round of golf.

“The wind was up, DJ [Johnson] played awesome and he put the pressure on. I’m glad to have this thing [the Wanamaker Trophy] back in my hands. It’s incredible. I don’t even know if I dreamed of this. This is cool. I am still in shock right now, this is awesome.”

Koepka will head to Pebble Beach next month looking for a third cons e c u t ive US Op e n v i c to r y – a f e a t achieved j u s t o n c e i n t h e to u r n a - ment’s histor y – by S cotland’s Willie Anderson from 1903 to 1905. The 29-year-old American will then rely heavily on caddie Ricky Elliott’s local knowledge as the Open Championship is staged in his bagman’s home town of Por trush for the first time since 1951.

“I’ve played there a lot growing up but Brooks hits the ball differently than the lines I hit it on,” said Elliott, who is good friends with another Portrush native, former US Open champion Graeme Mcdowell.

“I’ll have to work on my yardage book for Brooks playing it but obviously a little local knowledge doesn’t hurt. Brooks has got a big following in Portrush, probably because of me, so he’ll be well supported and I think Portrush will be set up well for him.”

Elliott was a very good golfer in his own right, winning titles such as the Ulster Boys Championship and the Ulster Youth Championship as well as representing Ireland at the 1990 European Youths Championship.

After attending the Universit y of Toledo on a golf scholarship, Elliott tried to make it as a professional before accepting an assistant professional’s post at Lake Nona in Orlando.

The 42-year-old eventually moved into caddying and worked for the likes of 2003 Open champion B en

“It’s New York. What do you expect when you’re halfchoking it away?”