Brooks Koepka wins U.S. Open
Koepka makes quite a name for himself, tying Open’s under-par scoring record
Record-tying victory is 27-year-old’s first major title.
ERIN, Wis. — Brooks Koepka had just tapped in a 20-inch putt to become the 117th U.S. Open champion, and he gave it the cliched low-grade golf fist pump. Twice. That was it.
The celebration was about as muted as you’ll ever see from someone who just won his first major. His performance was anything but.
It capped a week when the biggest names vanished after two rounds, leaving on the leaderboard a collection of rarely seen names. And, boy, there were a lot of names.
But in the end, a fourhole stretch of par and three birdies made Koepka a household name. This U.S. Open wasn’t lost, it was won by a 27-year-old Florida native who had only won one other PGA Tour tournament.
“That’s probably one of the coolest things I’ve ever experienced and to do it on Father’s Day, it’s pretty neat,” Koepka said. “I didn’t exactly get my dad a card, so this works.”
Koepka shot a 67 on his winning round. He had six birdies and one bogey in an exhibition of steady play. He shot under par in all four rounds at Erin Hills.
The margin of victory was four strokes and the winning total was 16 under, equaling the lowest score in relation to par in U.S. Open history. Hideki Matsuyama, who shot a sizzling 66, and Brian Harman, the thirdround leader, were at 12 under. Tommy Fleetwood was at 11 under and Xander Schauffele, Bill Haas and Rickie Fowler were one more stroke back.
Koepka was mostly unknown to the casual golf watcher but his athletic build and solid form have made him a favorite of those looking for the next star of their fantasy golf league. Pri-
or to Sunday, his only PGA Tour victory was in 2015 at Phoenix. But he’s been close a lot.
His previous best U.S. Open finish was a tie for fourth in 2014.
If you live in Jupiter, Fla., and you were taking one of those childhood tests to figure out which item doesn’t belong, Koepka would have been that odd item out when talking about the community’s pro golfer population.
The city is home to 2016 U.S. Open champion Dustin Johnson, four-time major winner Rory McIlroy, 2014 Open runner-up Fowler and, of course, Tiger Woods. Koepka and Johnson even train and hang out together. Now he truly belongs.
Johnson, who didn’t make the cut, called Koepka on Saturday night.
“It was a long phone call,” Koepka said, with a hint of facetiousness. “It was like two minutes, it wasn’t much. But he just said a few things, to just stay patient. And I’ll win if I stay patient and just keep doing what I’m doing.”
The stretch during which Koepka won this tournament started on the 13th hole Sunday. He was tied with Harman. His tee shot on the par three ended up rolling off the green and down a slope. He had about 78 feet, mostly uphill, to reach the pin. He put his second shot within about nine feet. He made the putt.
“That par save was massive on 13,” Koepka said. “That’s the reason I had so much confidence coming down, especially with the par five coming up, knowing that I needed to birdie that.”
Koepka got in trouble again on the par-five 14th when he put his second shot in a bunker. But a brilliant sand shot put the ball to about four feet for birdie. He made the putt.
“Leaving that in the bunker wasn’t that bad,” he said. “Anywhere over there was fine.”
Actually, all he probably had to do to win the tournament was par out. He had a two-shot lead over Matsuyama, who was in the clubhouse.
But on No. 15, which was the toughest-playing hole on the course Sunday, he put his approach about 10 feet away for a birdie attempt. He made the putt.
And on No. 16, a par three, he put his tee shot 17 feet away for a chance at his third birdie in a row. He made the putt.
He had a four-shot lead with two holes to play. He parred them both.
“I played really solid from the moment we got here on Monday and all the way through [Sunday],” Koepka said. “The ball-striking was pretty solid. It had to be, especially with the wind. And I got out there with the putter a little bit [Sunday] and all week. So all around my game is pretty solid and I couldn’t be happier.”
Harman, who was playing in the final group just behind Koepka, had lost all his energy as he approached the 18th hole, where a par would have given him sole possession of second place. He bogeyed the hole.
“It bites a little bit right now,” Harman said. “But Brooks played so well today. The conditions were so tough. So you’re in the nextto-last group and you shoot the [second-] lowest round of the day, that’s tough, that’s tough.”
Matsuyama had the round of the day, a six-under 66. He had eight birdies and two bogeys.
“We watched the finish in the clubhouse on TV,” Matsuyama said. “Brooks is a good friend of ours and we’re happy for him. Wish him well and congratulate him. I’ll try and beat him next time.”
The U.S. Open returns to one of its more traditional (read: difficult) courses next year when it goes back to Shinnecock Hills in the Hamptons.
Koepka won’t be anonymous. There will be expectations. But his resume will be looking a whole lot better than this year.
‘To do it on Father’s Day, it’s pretty neat. I didn’t exactly get my dad a card, so this works.’ —Brooks Koepka, on his U.S. Open triumph