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Brooks Koepka golf's new dominant force

3 minute read

Brooks Koepka has won the US PGA Championship at New York's Bethpage Black, his fourth major title in less than two years.

BROOKS KOEPKA of the United States plays his shot during the 2018 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York.
BROOKS KOEPKA of the United States plays his shot during the 2018 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York. Picture: Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images

Brooks Koepka has cemented his status as the most dominant golfer at the majors since Tiger Woods in his pomp, even if his second US PGA Championship win was tighter than expected.

Koepka's final round at windy, difficult Bethpage Black was filled with late bogeys but the powerful American held on to secure his fourth major title in less than two years, smashing records on the way.

The 29-year-old's two-shot win from fellow long-hitting American Dustin Johnson meant he became the first male golfer in history to hold two different majors back-to-back at the same time.

He also became the first to win his first four majors in two years - a run that has propelled him back past Johnson to the world No.1 ranking for a fourth time.

Koepka was speechless when reminded he had won four majors from eight starts.

"I like the way that sounds," said Koepka, who missed the 2018 Masters with a wrist injury. "Phenomenal. It's been a hell of a run."

Koepka's major haul equals Rory McIlroy while it surpasses Jordan Spieth (three) - previously seen as the two most dominant golfers since Woods' prime.

Florida native Koepka began Sunday at Bethpage with a lead that history suggested could not be lost.

His seven-shot advantage after 54 holes was the largest in PGA Championship history and was one that had never failed to produce a win at the majors, nor on the US PGA Tour.

But the wheels fell off spectacularly when four straight bogeys from the 11th hole allowed Johnson to pull within one stroke when he birdied the 15th.

With Koepka on pace to record the worst choke at the majors, the boisterous New York fans chanted "DJ!" in support of a barnstorming Johnson.

"They're New York fans; what do you expect when you're half choking it away? I deserved it," Koepka joked.

However, two late bogeys from Johnson allowed Koepka to bogey the 17th - and save a miraculous par on the 18th - to seal victory.

Koepka shot a four-over 74 and at eight-under-par (272) he finished two strokes ahead of Johnson (69).

His 74 was the highest final round by a PGA champion in 15 years.

"Today was definitely the most satisfying out of all (four) for how stressful that round was," Koepka said.

Koepka became the first player since Woods (1999-2001) to win four US-based majors from six starts.

He also joined Woods (1999-2000 and 2006-2007) as the only players to win back-to-back PGA Championships since it moved to stroke play in 1958.

Six-time major winner Nick Faldo admitted it was hard to argue Koepka had established a new world order among golf's four biggest events.

"50 per cent? That is some seriously unbelievable dominance," Faldo said.

Left in Koepka's wake was Spieth (71), who earned his first top-10 on the PGA Tour since July last year to share third at two under with Patrick Cantlay (71) and England's Matt Wallace (72).

Adam Scott shot 74 to share eighth at one over and lead the Australians, while Jason Day (72) shared 23rd at four over, Cameron Smith (74) was 11 over and Lucas Herbert (75) was 12 over.

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