Feature
Brooks Koepka claims first major title with US Open win
“ He ’ d been knocking on the door for a while ,” said good friend Justin Thomas , who tied for ninth after shooting 75 a day after his U . S . Open record-tying 63 . “ I felt he ’ s been very unnoticed and maybe not respected as much as he should have for his record . He ’ s played so well in the majors and played great in the [ 2016 ] Ryder Cup . It ’ s crazy to think that this is only his second [ PGA Tour-sanctioned ] win . When he ’ s on , there are not many people in the world better .” Koepka , who resembles a linebacker in build , prefers to be called an athlete rather than a golfer . He told ESPN ’ s Ian O ’ Connor earlier this week that pitching in Game 7 of the World Series or running the court with LeBron James or Stephen Curry is something he often dreamed about .
His father , Bob , was a pitcher at West Virginia Wesleyan , and his greatuncle , Dick Groat , was an All-American basketball player at Duke University who later won the 1960 National League Most Valuable Player Award while playing shortstop for the World Series-champion Pittsburgh Pirates . Koepka himself was a good baseball player growing up , but he eventually gravitated to golf . He was an
All-American at Florida State for three years before turning professional five years ago . But he didn ’ t take the conventional route to stardom . He went overseas and competed on the European Challenge Tour , where he won four times , and later the PGA European Tour , becoming the circuit ’ s rookie of the year in 2014 after finishing eighth in the Race to Dubai . He joined the PGA Tour full time in 2015 , winning the Waste Management Open . A year later , he played on the victorious USA Ryder Cup Team at Hazeltine National .
The only thing missing was a major title . He tied for fourth in the 2014 U . S . Open at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club , 10 strokes back of runaway winner Martin Kaymer . He added top-10 finishes in the 2015 Open Championship at St . Andrews ( T-10 ) and PGA Championship at Whistling Straits ( T-5 ) before tying for fourth last year in the PGA Championship at Baltusrol . Although he hasn ’ t won during the 2016- 17 PGA Tour season , Koepka does have two runner-up finishes ( Shriners Open and Valero Texas Open ) and a tie for fifth with his younger brother , Chase , in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans .
“ I kept telling people last year after the
Ryder Cup , when Brooks figures out how good he is , he ’ s going to be a world-beater ,” said Brandt Snedeker , who tied for ninth ( 8-under 280 ).
Perhaps all he needed was the right venue . Erin Hills , with its generous fairways , definitely fit Koepka ’ s game . This past Tuesday , Koepka had a good conversation with swing coaches Claude Harmon and Pete Cowen about being patient . Some felt Koepka had underachieved , despite being in just his third full season on the PGA Tour . That won ’ t be an issue anymore . “ I thought I needed to win multiple times and a major ,” said Koepka . “ I ’ m sure someone heard me say that . I thought the way my game set up , I think I can win multiple times a year , I really do . And I think this is hopefully major number one and there ’ s many more to come .”
Koepka ’ s father wasn ’ t on property to enjoy this special victory , and Brooks said he didn ’ t send a Father ’ s Day card . Maybe showing off the trophy where his name is etched with some of the game ’ s greatest players will be a nice substitute . “ To win my first major in the United States is pretty special ,” said Koepka . “ It is Father ’ s Day , so hopefully … this [ trophy ] works .”
32 G o l f P l u s JULY 2017