SOUTHAMPTON- Before the U.S. Open Tournament started this week at Shinnecock Hills, not many people would have given American Brooks Koepka much of a chance to win. One year ago, at Erin Hills in Wisconsin, Koepka dominated the field to win at 16 under par, a historic score that was only matched by Rory McIlroy in 2011.
After his first major championship, the American golfer suffered a wrist injury that sidelined him for four months. He even had to miss this year’s Masters.
“You go from playing some of the best golf I’ve probably ever played to probably being at the lowest point professionally that I’ve been. It wasn’t easy,” said Koepka before this year’s U.S. Open began.
With coming under the radar this week to Shinnecock, Koepka was positive about his game. So much so, that he said, “There’s no one more confident on this course than me.”
If he was going to win, confidence, power and using all facets of his game effectively would be the critical factors to get him his 2nd major championship.
Numerous Golfers With Chance to Win Heading into Final Round
Brooks had a share of the lead at three over par, alongside American counterparts Dustin Johnson, Tony Finau and Daniel Berger. Koepka and Johnson, the last two U.S. Open champions, would be paired together in the final round.
After the first round, Koepka was tied for 46th. Most golfers never come back to be in contention with so many great players ahead.
But with the wind howling and a difficult course set up, many golfers started shooting high scores, bringing many competitors back into the championship. Even after some perplexing pin placements in the 3rd round, which saw Koepka bogey the 15th and 18th holes after hitting quality shots, he still held a share of the lead heading into the final round.
Shinnecock Hills was showing its teeth to the golfers, but that never bothered Brooks.
“I enjoy the test,” Koepka said. “I enjoy being pushed to the limit. Sometimes you feel like you are about to break mentally, but that’s what I enjoy. I enjoy hard golf courses. I enjoy playing about the toughest in golf you are ever going to play.”
Fleetwood Ties US Open Record Before Koepka Tees Off
As Brooks Koepka was getting ready to begin his final round, there was another young golfer making noise around the hills of Shinnecock. Englishman Tommy Fleetwood was taking advantage of a softer golf course after the USGA had watered the greens down after multiple complaints of the 3rd round conditions.
In order to be in the mix early, Fleetwood knew he had to get off to a fast start. With birdies on four of the first seven holes, Tommy was starting to believe that maybe this could be his day.
But the thunderous roars of Shinnecock came on the back nine when he converted four straight birdies from holes 12 to 15. His putting was superb, he was tied for first for Greens in Regulation (89%) and tied for 2nd in his fairways hit (93%).
After a brilliant approach shot to the 18th, the most difficult hole of the day at Shinnecock, he had a makeable putt to be the first golfer ever at the U.S. Open to shoot a 62. But the ball would move to the right and he would have to settle for par, tying the U.S. Open record of 63 last set by Justin Thomas in the final round at Erin Hills.
As Fleetwood said after the round, “I wanted to get a 62.” Little did he know that his missed putt on the 72nd hole may come back to hurt his chances.
Koepka’s Full Arsenal put on Full Display
Heading into the 12th hole, Brooks Koepka held a two-shot lead over Fleetwood, already in the clubhouse at plus two. He had his playing partner, Dustin Johnson, chasing him with his strength and powerful shots. Patrick Reed, who had birdied five of the first seven holes, was making a charge to the top of the leaderboard. And even up and comer Tony Finau, in the final group, had the benefit of more holes to play in order to make a run at Koepka.
After a poor approach shot on 12 that saw his ball go into the nasty fescue, Brooks then hit his third shot into the bunker on the right side of the green.
His ensuing bunker shot left him a 25-foot bogey putt. A double bogey would put the American tied with Fleetwood and the rest of the field back in the competition.
But Koepka battled his nerves and buried the bogey putt. He would then have two consecutive up and down par saves on 13 and 14.
As Brooks stated on that bogey on 12, “I think that was like making a birdie, maybe even making an eagle. Because it could have been a big momentum shift there, and we could have been playing tennis just going back and forth. To make bogey there was pretty incredible and I think kind of the reason why we won.”
The dagger came on the par-5 16th hole when Koepka’s flush third shot landed two feet from the pin. He would sink that birdie putt, putting him in the winning position once again.
Johnson’s putting let him down once again. Reed’s fast start eventually evaporated after battling a tough back nine. Finau’s inexperience being in the final group proved to be costly.
As Koepka tapped in his final putt on the 72nd hole to win his 2nd major, it was clear that his consistency and toughness under pressure proved to be too good for the competition. He would go 15 of 18 Greens in Regulation (83%) and 10 of 14 Fairways Hit (71%). At a course that demands perfection, Koepka’s stellar play under difficult conditions was critical to him getting back to the winner’s circle.
Second Time Making History
Winning one U.S. Open is a remarkable feat. What Brooks Koepka did on Sunday is historical. He would win his 2nd major and be the 7th golfer to win back-to-back U.S. Open’s, the last being Curtis Strange in 1988 and 1989. Since World War II, Koepka joins Ben Hogan and Strange as the only golfers to go back-to-back at the U.S. Open.
The American would join Jack Nicklaus and Zach Johnson as the only players to win a major at both -15 or lower and one at over par.
At 28 years old, Koepka is the only player in his 20s to win multiple U.S. Opens, the last being Tiger Woods.
Joining the plethora of young golfers who have now won majors, Brooks is becoming one of the bright young stars in golf. But he isn’t ready to stop celebrating this epic feat just yet.
“It hasn’t sunk in yet,” Koepka said. “I don’t think I could have dreamt this, to go back to back. It’s truly special.”
