Back-to-back US Opens for Koepka

He has every excuse in the book – and he’s still part of a four-way lead, along with Berger, Finau and defending Open champion Brooks Koepka.

The American began the day tied at the top with Finau, Johnson and Daniel Berger but it ended up being Englishman Tommy Fleetwood who would be his closest challenger.

So what about all the other tournaments he’s played? “Going into today, I needed something special to happen to even have an outside chance”, Finau said as Johnson and Scott Piercy were making their way down the first fairway in the final group.

“He did not let the ball come to rest and if that is not a serious breach I don’t what is and they should have applied the rule that says disqualification”, Westwood told Sky Sports UK.

But I just so enjoyed the way he tackled the horrendous conditions on Saturday and then was so positive when he attacked the course on Sunday morning to set his brilliant clubhouse target. If you screw up, you’re gone.

But Kopeka’s composed title defence has shown the understated Floridian to be a golfer of great substance.

History will look at Brooks Koepka and note that he won the same major championship two years in a row.

UNITED STATES GOLF ASSOCIATIONU.S. OPENSite: Southampton, N.Y.

The USGA doesn’t like to talk about scores, but that’s the identity of this major. The Shark also had 75 victories around the world and was No. 1 longer than any other player until Tiger Woods came along.

But Koepka steadied himself and ground his way home in the traditional style of a U.S. Open victor, making par on six of the last seven holes and birdieing the par-5 15th to give himself some breathing room. Those were, supposedly, the best golfers in the field through two rounds.

Does Johnson face the possibility of criticism for not pouncing on his opportunities at majors? Attribute that to a cold putter on the weekend at Shinnecock, which also held him back at Augusta in April.

Fleetwood, though, seems to be emerging as one of those players you can rely on.

“I’m going to find Mike Davis”, Pat Perez said after signing for a 77. I’d like to do it more. How many wins has got, 18?

“The U.S. Open just takes so much discipline”, Koepka said.

Spieth’s playoff victory previous year over Daniel Berger, complete with a bunker hole-out and raucous celebration, went down as one of the most electrifying moments of 2017.

Throughout the week, Koepka walked with a confident step.

Koepka’s feat is as interesting as any of them because of the radically different kinds of courses he won on and tests that he faced.

Three front-nine birdies gave him a 1-stroke lead at the turn, and a birdie at 10 put him up by 2. “He’s never going to out-drive the game’s strongest players-for comparison, Koepka averaged 318.3 yards per drive to Fleetwood’s 307.3-but his shots off the tee are going to land where he wants them, and probably farther than most would imagine his slight, 5’11” frame capable.

Koepka doesn’t really think about his legacy. “You don’t care much for them for 4½ hours”. I hope I can settle for just cheering him at Carnoustie rather than cursing his rivals.

But for now, Koepka is just happy to see his name engraved on the trophy for a second time. “I think that’s why he’s so good now, the competitiveness that he’s had to go through with myself and my dad”. “Having said that, this golf course will get slowed down tonight”.