Brooks Koepka is officially a major champion. The 27-year-old broke away from the pack on Sunday during the final round of the 117th U.S. Open at Erin Hills by overcoming windy conditions to claim his first major in record fashion.
His winning total of 16-under matches Rory McIlroy’s mark at Congressional in 2011 for the lowest total score in relation to par. Koepka, who takes home $2.16 million for the victory, is the seventh consecutive first-time major winner. It’s also his second career PGA Tour win.
“What I’ve done this week is amazing,” Koepka said. “To win the same tournament as some of the names on this trophy, it’s unbelievable.”
Starting the day one shot back, Koepka made two quick birdies in 30mph winds to climb to the top of the leaderboard. He then added another on the par-4 eighth to go out in clean 3-under 33.
After a sloppy three-putt bogey on 10, Koepka rattled off three straight birdies on 14, 15, and 16 to take control for good. It also gave him a shot at McIlroy’s record. However, he closed with two pars, one of which included a pedestrian 379-yard 3-wood off the tee on 18.
At the end of the day, Koepka hit 12 of 14 fairways and 17 of 18 greens en route to a closing 5-under par 67, good enough for a four shot victory.
.@BKoepka: 1st #USOpen champion to hit 80% of his fairways and 80% of his greens in regulation (stats kept since 1981)
— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGC) June 19, 2017
A 5-under 67 in the final round of the 117th #USOpen earned @BKoepka his first major title and the @Lexus Top Performance of the Day. pic.twitter.com/AeTsgu9SDP
— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 19, 2017
Hideki Matsuyama fired the round of the day with a 6-under 66 to put him in a tie for second with 54-hole leader, Brian Harmon. England’s Tommy Fleetwood finished solo fourth, while Rickie Fowler, Bill Haas and Xander Schauffele tied for fifth.
Unfortunately, Justin Thomas could not follow up his record-setting 9-under par performance on Saturday. He shot a 3-over par 75 to finish up in a tie for ninth.
Here’s a look at the final round highlights and results from the 117th U.S. Open Championship:
Recapping the top moments from the final round of the 17th #USOpen at Erin Hills. pic.twitter.com/dnr0eXGs0j
— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 19, 2017
Next stop on the PGA Tour: Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands, Cromwell, Connecticut
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