Though Shinnecock played tougher than most courses, Brooks Koepka captured his second-straight U.S. Open championship on Sunday.
Brooks Kopeka wins the 2018 U.S. Open and becomes the first player to win back-to-back U.S. Open Championships since Curtis Strange accomplished the feat back in 1988 and 1989.
However, just like every major championship, Koepka had some battles to face whether it was players trying to play catch up, or whether it was the monstrous Shinnecock Hills golf course trying to do what she does best and keep guys scratching their heads on every shot.
However, the course played a little differently on Father’s Day.
The USGA admitted that their course setup on Saturday was unfair and they messed up. They learned from their mistakes and made the course more playable on the most important day of the tournament. And it showed right off the bat as scores were low all throughout the day.
Rickie Fowler, one of the first groups to go out, shot a five under 65 in his final round after shooting an 84 the previous day. Clearly, there will be low scores for the guys in contention. But I don’t think anyone saw a potential 62 out there unless your name was Tommy Fleetwood.
The Englishman started his final round +9 on the tournament which kept him six shots off the lead. Fleetwood would fire out eight birdies, and have his ninth birdie putt on 18 come up oh so short which would have given him a round of 62 and a U.S. Open record.
“I knew I was kind of in it teeing off, but you still have to get off to a good start, Fleetwood told ESPN reporter Nick Piettruszkiewicz. When I was four under through seven, it was game on.”
Fleetwood would finish at a final score of +2, which was the clubhouse lead. So now all he could do is wait.
All throughout Sunday afternoon, birdies were flying left and right. Patrick Reed, 2018 Masters champion, birdied the first three holes of the day and finished the front nine at -4. However, ran out of gas on the back nine after posting three bogies through his first four holes.
Brooks Koepka knew in order to win the U.S. Open, he had to get past good friend and fellow work out buddy, Dustin Johnson. Brooks would not fold from the pressure of playing with world number one.
Brooks Koepka with one of the more impressive pars you’ll see, capped off by this 61’ putt, he remains tied for the lead at +1 #USOpenpic.twitter.com/kYIJZFpFBl
— Always Pressing POD (@alwayspressDFS) June 16, 2018
Brooks Koepka!! #golf RT @usopengolf: Oh my @BKoepka! This guy is throwing darts today! He extends his lead to two strokes with two holes to play. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/2DKibhUsxY
— Jay Betsill (@TheFamousJay) June 17, 2018
Brooks Koepka joins Bobby Jones as the only defending #USOpen champions to hold the 54-hole lead and win ?? pic.twitter.com/cGvCXxo0gq
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) June 17, 2018
Brooks Koepka says "man it feels good to hold that thing again." #USOpenChampion @News12LI pic.twitter.com/lyQOU7BDe8
— Kevin Maher (@KMaherNews12) June 17, 2018
In fact, Brooks took on the challenge in open arms. Koepka started off hot, posting birdies on three of his first five holes. DJ just couldn’t get anything going, finished his final round even par and a total score of +3, two shots back from Brooks Koepka, +1.
Koepka conquered Erin Hills back in 2017 and now conquered Shinnecock Hills in 2018. The two time U.S. Open Champion proved to everyone that last year wasn’t a fluke, that he can win on one of the world most difficult courses.
Koepka plans to carry his momentum into next week as he tees it up at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell Connecticut for the Travelers Championship.
