Brooks Koepka won the 105th PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club on Sunday, securing his third Wanamaker Trophy and becoming the first player from the LIV Golf League to win a major championship. He beat Viktor Hovland and Scottie Scheffler by two strokes with a total score of 9 under over 72 holes. Koepka opened up a four-shot lead over Hovland and Corey Conners with three consecutive birdies in the first four holes, and held on to his lead through the back nine despite challenges from Hovland and Scheffler.
Koepka’s victory at Oak Hill Country Club reaffirmed his position as one of the best major championship players of his era. He won his third PGA Championship title, adding to his victories at Bellerive Country Club in 2018 and Bethpage Black in 2019. He is only the third player to win the PGA Championship at least three times since it became a stroke-play event in 1958, joining Jack Nicklaus (five) and Tiger Woods (four). Koepka also won the U.S. Open in back-to-back years at Erin Hills in Wisconsin in 2017 and Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in New York in 2018.
Koepka’s victory was a historic moment for the LIV Golf League, which reportedly paid him $100 million in guaranteed earnings to lure him away from the PGA Tour in June. The league is financed by Saudi Arabia and is trying to compete with the PGA Tour for top golfers. Koepka’s victory marks a significant milestone for the league, which has been trying to establish itself as a legitimate alternative to the PGA Tour.
Koepka’s victory was also a redemption story. At the Masters in April, Koepka had a two-shot lead heading into the final round but shot 3-over 75 in the final 18 holes and lost to Spain’s Jon Rahm by four strokes. Koepka acknowledged that he had choked under pressure and promised that it would never happen again. He kept his promise at Oak Hill Country Club, where he played aggressively and maintained his lead through the back nine.
Koepka’s victory is a reminder that he is one of the most dominant golfers in the world when he is healthy and focused. He has won five majors before the age of 34, joining a select group of golfers that includes Woods, Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Seve Ballesteros, Gary Player, and Tom Watson. He has a final-round scoring average of 68.9 in the majors from 2015 through 2018, which is the best among all golfers.
Koepka’s victory at Oak Hill Country Club was a testament to his resilience and determination. He had suffered a major injury to his right knee in 2019, which forced him to take a break from golf and develop bad habits. He missed the cut at the 2022 Masters and openly questioned whether he could compete with younger golfers like Scheffler. But he worked hard to regain his form and fitness, and his victory at Oak Hill Country Club was a testament to his dedication and hard work.
Brooks Koepka’s victory at the 105th PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club was a historic moment for him and the LIV Golf League. He played aggressively and maintained his lead through the back nine, proving that he is one of the most dominant golfers in the world when he is healthy and focused. His victory is a reminder that he is one of the best major championship players of his era, and that he has the potential to win many more titles in the years to come.
Leave a Reply