By Yemi Babalola Lagos, Nigeria.
World number 22 in golf Brooks Koepka is the new US Open champion, he emerge winner of the 117th edition of the tournament at Erin Hills. He continued with his maiden major victories with an impressive four-stroke victory at the US Open. Koepka made six birdies Sunday, including three straight on the back nine, and was not deterred by pressure on his way to winning the 117th U.S. Open at Erin Hills. Koepka’s 16-under total tied Rory McIlroy’s record (2011, Congressional) for lowest score in relation to par at a U.S. Open. He is the seventh consecutive first-time major winner.
While, English Tommy Fleetwood who was initially tipped to win earlier into the finals, shot a level-par 72 to end fourth on 11 under. The 26-year-old from Southport, playing in just his second US Open, was unable to keep pace with playing partner Koepka on the front nine.
The top guns and ‘big boys’ did not fare well at the US Open championship. The top three, Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy and Jason Day, all missed the cut at a major. The only men in the world’s top 10 to significantly challenge on the leaderboard dominated by players chasing their first victory at a major were Matsuyama and American Rickie Fowler and both of them are also yet to win one of golf’s big four prizes.
Other top golfers expected to challenge like homeboy Jordan Spieth who won in 2015 closed with a three-under 69 to finish on one over. The fifth ranked 22 year old was pleased with his tee-to-green play but conceded he was “not comfortable” on the greens all week and has “work to do with the putter”(according to his interview with BBC Sport).
While recent Masters champion Sergio Garcia is world number seven and the Spaniard had a solid, if unspectacular, week in Wisconsin.
Champion Brooks Koepka was born in West Palm Beach, Florida, and raised in Lake Worth, Florida. He is 27 year old and just won his first ever major championship, but has won the PGA and European tour twice, challenge tour four times and the japan golf tour once. Congratulations to the new US Open championship winner Brooks Kpoepka.
