Koepka by the numbers

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. – Brooks Koepka’s opening 63 at Bethpage State Park’s vaunted Black Course was not the lowest major score. That record belongs to Branden Grace’s 62 at Royal Birkdale in 2017.

But a deeper look at the numbers suggests Koepka’s 2019 first round is in the upper half of the 33 rounds of 63 posted in majors, all because of something Koepka failed to do: birdie one of Bethpage’s two par-5s.

After the morning wave of players, the par-5 4th played as Bethpage’s easiest hole (4.6) while the par-5 13th averaged around par (5.0). Koepka missed two of the easier opportunities for birdie.

The Black Course played 7,406 yards in round one and to par of 70.

Koepka broke the Bethpage Black course record held by five players, with two of those 64s posted in the U.S. Open (Lucas Glover and Mike Weir, 2009).

7 birdies, no eagles, 11 pars. Driving distance all holes, 296.4 yards.