Brooks Koepka Denies Charging Tiger To Win USPGA Championship
Koepka wins his third Major title
Brooks Koepka wins his third Major title. How the action unfolded at the 100th USPGA Championship, Bellerive Country Club, St. Louis
Brooks Koepka Denies Charging Tiger To Win USPGA Championship
Brooks Koepka has won the USPGA Championship following a nerveless display in holding off a charging Tiger Woods and a resurgent Adam Scott on a thrilling final day at Bellerive Country Club, St. Louis.
The 28-year-old has now won three Majors from his last six starts, this one coming after he successfully defended his US Open at Shinnecock Hills in June - and it was achieved by holding off two greats of the game.
After another booming drive down the final hole, Koepka enjoyed the walk with a two-shot lead, before firing another approach straight over the pin to set up a safe two-putt.
Scott had not posted a top-five finish anywhere in the world for two years, and only ran out of steam on the final few holes when a couple of pulled tee shots put an end to any potential final-hole fireworks.
Expand The 20 USPGA Championship PGA Professionals 2019
Get the top Black Friday deals right in your inbox: Sign up now!
The hottest deals and product recommendations during deals season straight to your inbox plus all the best game-changing tips, in-depth features and the latest news and insights around the game.
The 20 USPGA Championship PGA Professionals 2019
The USPGA Championship invites 20 PGA Professionals into…
Expand USPGA Championship Prize Money 2019
USPGA Championship Prize Money 2019
The prize pool for 2019 has been announced
Expand Why Eleven Sports USPGA TV Coverage Is Good For Golf
Why Eleven Sports USPGA TV Coverage Is Good For Golf
There were plenty of complaints, but is the…
Many believed back-to-back US Open champion, Koepka would stroll to victory despite entering the final round just two shots clear, after an impressive combination of power off the tee and exquisite wedge play.
However, it proved to be anything but on a day of toing and froing as the chasing pack, littered with Major champions, refused to let the big-hitting American out of sight.
One of those was Woods, who rolled back the years to fire a six-under 64, a round littered with 'Tiger specials' - although he was powerless to stop Koepka, who recovered from a wobble in the middle of his front nine to hold the chasing pack at bay.
That mini crisis came when he carded back-to-back bogeys at the 4th and 5th, but he responded impressively to reel off three successive birdies from the 7th.
Woods' challenge was all the more impressive after he got his quest for a 15th Major underway on Thursday with a bogey-double bogey start, but it was vintage Tiger thereafter, even if he was erratic off the tee for much of the tournament.
The former world number one pulled his opening tee shot into a fairway bunker, but responded with a towering iron to eight feet. Only a bobble prevented him from getting off to the perfect start, but he made gains at the 2nd and 3rd to start his charge.
A bogey at the par-3 6th threatened to halt his progress, but he quickly moved back into contention with birdies at eight and nine. By the time he reached the turn he'd failed to find one fairway, but he was right in the mix.
So accurate were his short irons, Woods was rarely putting from distance, his pinpoint approaches whipping the crowd into a frenzy.
One of those stunning short irons came at the par-4 15th. After coming off a bogey on 14, he found the fairway on the next and fired his approach from 164 yards to just a few inches.
However, when Koepka birdied the long par-3 16th, Woods desperately needed to birdie the 17th, but after leaking his tee shot dangerously close to the water down the right, he was unable to make a four.
Koepka's 4-iron on the 16th was arguably the best shot of the day, his tee shot never leaving the flag and rolling up to six feet - and he coolness personified as he rolled it home for a two-shot lead.
Earlier on, Scott did his best to keep the pressure on his playing partner, briefly joining Koepka at the top of the leaderboard after making a stunning birdie at the par-3 13th.
But every time Koepka was asked a serious question he responded in style, and his back-to-back birdies at 15 and 16 were right out of the top drawer.
Woods tried to apply the pressure one last time by rolling in his birdie effort on the 18th, but Koepka was unflappable and would not be denied Major number three.
He won't have so long to defend his title with next year's USPGA Championship taking place in May. Before then and he may even head to Augusta as favourite for the Green Jacket.
Michael has been with Golf Monthly since 2008. As a multimedia journalist, he has also worked for The Football Association, where he created content to support the men's European Championships, The FA Cup, London 2012, and FA Women's Super League. As content editor at Foremost Golf, Michael worked closely with golf's biggest equipment manufacturers, and has developed an in-depth knowledge of this side of the industry. He's now a regular contributor, covering instruction, equipment and feature content. Michael has interviewed many of the game's biggest stars, including six world number ones, and has attended and reported on many Major Championships and Ryder Cups. He's a member of Formby Golf Club.
-
I Was Given $1000 To Spend On Black Friday - Here's What I'm Buying!
Black Friday is a great time for a golfer to pick up some real bargains... So, what could I get for a thousand bucks? Well, quite a lot actually!
By David Usher Published
-
I've Just Tested All Of The Best Putting Mats And 5 Of Them Are On Offer This Black Friday
Putting mat expert Sam De'Ath breaks down some of the best models on offer this Black Friday that he has recently tested
By Sam De'Ath Published
-
Rory McIlroy Gym Routine... Revealed!
In this Rory McIlroy Gym Routine article we discover how the Northern Irishman keeps himself so fit
By Neil Tappin Published
-
What Is Tiger Woods' Net Worth?
Tiger Woods became the first billion dollar athlete in 2009
By Elliott Heath Last updated
-
The Masters Live Stream: How To Watch The Major
Here are all the details on how you can watch the Major wherever you are in the world.
By Sam Tremlett Published
-
Five Outsiders Who Could Win The Masters
We consider five players who might surprise the favourites and claim victory at Augusta
By Fergus Bisset Published
-
Who Is Tiger Woods’ Girlfriend?
Find out more on who the American professional golfer is going out with here.
By Matt Cradock Last updated
-
Bermuda Championship Golf Betting Tips 2021
Who is the GM Tipster backing to win this week in Bermuda?
By Jeremy Chapman Published
-
Jeff Winther Claims Maiden European Tour Title
Jeff Winther Claims Maiden European Tour Title
By Matt Cradock Published
-
Fredrik Andersson Hed Passes Away Following Battle With Cancer
Fredrik Andersson Hed Passes Away Following Battle With Cancer
By Matt Cradock Published