Brooks Koepka crowned PGA champion | Like a fish in water

“He’s like a shark. And when he sees blood, he attacks! That’s how Jon Rahm described Brooks Koepka earlier on Sunday. This comparison proved true later in the day, when the American lifted the Wanamaker trophy for the third time thanks to a cumulative score of -9. He also offered the LIV circuit, of which he is now a member, his first Grand Slam victory.

He had both hands on the wheel, or on the rudder, to stay in the nautical domain, at the start of the round, with a one stroke lead over Viktor Hovland and Corey Conners.

Four years after his last major tournament title, Koepka held on to win, without too many surprises.

Neither Hovland nor Conners did enough to worry him. Even ghosts like Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy will have been unable to catch up with him.

From the outset, he set the tone with two birdies on the second and third holes.

In major tournaments, Koepka is the most threatening and imperturbable player of his generation. A few weeks ago, at the Masters Tournament, he finished second.

This time, it was out of the question for the golfer on the LIV Golf circuit to miss out on the chance to make history. With this gain, he became only the 20^e player in history to win at least five major titles.

Koepka once again stood out on a course recognized for its complexity. His last PGA Championship title came at Bethpage State Park, one of the toughest terrains in the United States.

Recognized for his power and build as a quarterback, Koepka stood out more for his precision and tact during the week.

Even when he was in trouble on the famous sixth hole, his only gap of the round, he got back to within a few feet of the cup thanks to a huge iron shot.

In short, Koepka was imperial. Without fanfare, he was in an enviable position, but above all in a favorable context to shine.

While some golfers are better at playing catch-up and coming from behind, like Rory McIlroy, Koepka only ever plays so well when the pressure is on, when the light is on him and when he’s making the final tee. , a Sunday afternoon of a major tournament.

He was imperturbable, steady and placid. In short, he was himself.

This victory is all the more significant given the turmoil of recent years. With his knee injuries and transfer to the Saudi circuit, the best seemed to be behind him. Koekpa’s dominance seemed to have been a bubble, a phase, in the glorious history of golf.

Finally, have no doubt, good old Brooks Koepka is back. Even if he polarizes, no one can doubt it: he is like a fish in water when victory is at stake. And this third title at the PGA Championship should be proof enough. Only Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods have achieved such a feat in the era of stroke championships.

Michael who?

Block. Michael Block.

It takes a story that is particularly interesting, or unique, to eclipse a player’s major tournament triumph.

However, in a few years, the 2023 edition of the PGA Championship will be remembered more as the Michael Block tournament than as that of Brooks Koepka.

He was one of 20 golf professionals invited to take part in the tournament. Instructor in a California club, the 46-year-old man had planned only two sets of clothes and above all a return plane ticket for the date on Friday.

However, his game propelled him to instant stardom. Everywhere, on the course of Oak Hill, on the television networks and social media, everyone had only for this stranger with overflowing charisma.

His faculty of wonder never died out.

He was paired with McIlroy for the final round and he had to try to finish in the top 15 to ensure its participation in the next edition. He was eighth at the start.

His start to the round was somewhat thorny, despite the monstrous reception received at the first tee.

But that’s nothing compared to the reaction of the crowd when he hit a hole-in-one at 15^e. “She didn’t come in?” No, you sure are kidding me. Did she really come in? he kept repeating while everyone gave him hugs. Even his younger brother used his rangefinder to be sure.

He returned a round of 71 (+ 1) and his par, difficult to obtain on the last hole, allowed him to finish tied at 15^e rank. He even had to quiet the crowd to let McIlroy finish his tournament in silence.

According to PGA data, he had earned $38,038 in career scholarships. With this unexpected epic, he receives the tidy sum of $288,000.

Better luck next time

Viktor Hovland will have it, his major title, but not immediately.

He was Koepka’s main threat. Conners, meanwhile, had neither the nerves nor the experience to be a real contender.

Hovland, for his part, had knocked on the door in his last two majors.

This second place, obtained by virtue of a final score of -7, is his best career result.

He got off to a good start, but his lack of finesse on the greens on birdie opportunities sank him.

And, of course, his mess at 16^e hole. This footage was a cut-and-paste of Conners’ misadventure at that same hole on Saturday. Positioned in the bunker to the right of the fairway after his tee shot, his second shot stayed level with the ground and landed directly in the lip of the bunker. He lost a shot and, ultimately, his chances of joining Koekpa.

Scottie Scheffler was also invited to the party with a final round of 65 (- 5), to climb to tied for second place. His round of 73 (+3) on Saturday was extremely penalizing.

For his part, Conners slipped early. He brought home a round of 75 (+5) to finish at 12^e rank.