Do not adjust your device. Like the lynx at the Biodôme, we thought we had seen the end of its nose at the last Masters Tournament, but this time, it’s here for good. The 2019 Brooks Koepka is officially back.
He didn’t come back to life, because he hadn’t really died out. It was rather in decline.
After his impressive streak during which he won the PGA Championship twice and the United States Open twice between 2017 and 2019, Koepka went on a crusade.
His attitude, confident, but arrogant in some ways, began to displease. The famous phrase “I only train for major tournaments” became famous and contributed to tarnishing his image somewhat.
Numerous injuries followed, including major knee injuries, a slack in terms of victories, an episode of the series full-swing on Netflix in which it seems odious and very unpleasant business, and, ultimately, this exodus to the LIV Golf series.
However, Koepka’s motivation remained overwhelming. Its goal ? Win the most prestigious tournaments.
At one time, he was the most dangerous and threatening golfer in Grand Slam tournaments.
Between 2012 and 2021, Koepka took part in 30 major tournaments. He won four, finished 16 times in the top 10 and missed only three cuts.
His 2019 triumph at Bethpage State Park, one of the most complex and grueling courses in the United States, is still cited among the most impressive victories of recent years.
The course on which the current PGA Championship is played, Oak Hill, in Rochester, New York, has similarities to the other New York course. Both are strenuous, especially because of the long grass, and mistakes are unforgivable.
At the end of the third round, the 33-year-old is in first place. “I like when it’s tough,” he said, smirking, after his round on Saturday.
As at the Augusta National a few weeks ago, where he finished second, he has the wind in his sails after 54 holes. Literally and figuratively.
Just like in the first major of the season, Mother Nature did her thing. It was even worse this time. The rain was heavy and the drops were heavy. The sound of the crashing on the players’ umbrellas was unmistakable.
PHOTO ABBIE PARR, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Brooks Koepka waits his turn in the rain.
During the day, the players changed uniforms at least four times. When it wasn’t raining, it was windy. When there was no wind, it was cold. The sun came out in the middle of the afternoon, but another cell of rain fell on the players.
Still, those who took the last starts were strongly favored and more spared.
Upside down caps, baggy raincoats, polo shirts, long-sleeved shirts. This third round looked like a MET Gala.
PHOTO ADAM CAIRNS, USA TODAY SPORTS VIA REUTERS CON
Grounds officials were scrambling to push water off the greens at Oak Hill on Saturday.
Through all this weather chaos, Koepka was able to hold his own. Booed on the first hole with his playing partner Bryson DeChambeau, the point guard delivered a flawless performance.
He was consistent on the greens, as evidenced by his two consecutive birdies on the fourth and fifth holes. Same as 17ewhere despite a soggy green, he crawled his ball into the goal, in a straight line.
He finally put up a 66 for the second day in a row to take the lead at -6.
Under such circumstances, and if he continues to play without forcing the game, Koepka is in an excellent position to take home a third Wanamaker trophy.
Revenge of the Good Boys
Everything was going like clockwork for Corey Conners and Viktor Hovland early in the round.
The two attackers were at the top of the table for the entire day. They didn’t make too many mistakes. However, those that were committed were fatal.
PHOTO ERIC GAY, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Canadian Corey Conners
Canadian Corey Conners played an unblemished round. His tee shots, as usual, were long and divinely precise. He put on the normal ones. Until his second shot at 16e, from the bunker, make barely ten yards before hitting the lip of the hatch head-on. The bullet went deep into the long grass. He had to replay a shot and that double bogey broke his momentum. This course error barely followed the 15ewhere he had made a long putt to seize the lead alone.
Similar trajectory for Hovland. The young Norwegian had a bumpy round but he was still able to limit the damage.
PHOTO ABBIE PARR, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Norwegian Viktor Hovland
After bogeys on the fourth and fifth holes, he followed it up with three birdies on the next seven holes. His short game, his weakness of yesteryear, was both neuralgic at the start of the round, before being miserable from the 15the hole.
Either way, a major tournament victory would be deserved and celebrated.
On the one hand, Conners has been around for a while on the PGA Tour and he’s still lurking around for titles, but he only has two in his career. He finished three times in the top 10 in the last four editions of the Masters Tournament. No one can speak ill of this quiet, non-exuberant Canadian.
On the other hand, Hovland is a young player with the look of a veteran. He finished in the top 10 in his last two major tournament starts. He is one of the most popular players on the circuit. Nevertheless, even if he knows how to play his cards right, his lack of grit, poise and consistency usually keeps him away from the title in the last rounds. Despite everything, he keeps smiling.
The two players have returned a card of 70 and are positioned tied for second, one stroke behind Koepka.