Defending Champion Koepka tames Bethpage Black

Brooks Koepka has done it again!  The 29-year old from West Palm Beach, Florida successfully defended his PGA Championship crown at Bethpage Black GC near New York at the weekend (16-19 May) to become only the fifth player in golfing history to win wire-to-wire in what was always traditionally the fourth and final Major of the season.  His victory at Farmingdale is his fourth Major in two years and exalts him to the new World Number One.

 

Koepka was a man on a mission.  Obviously not relishing the thought of his reign being cut short due to the rescheduling of the tournament to earlier in the season, Koepka played sublimely.  No-one else stood a chance of getting their hands on his Wanamaker Trophy. Nine months after his first PGA Championship victory, he had the luxury of closing out with a round of 74 at the weekend for a final score of 272, 8-under par (63, 65,70,74) to win by two strokes from Dustin Johnson and so knock his fellow American off the number one spot in the world ranking.

 

The young golf talent Brooks Koepka only turned 29 on the third of May, just two weeks before the PGA Championship at Bethpage Black.  So he has another twelve months and three more Majors in which to play before he reaches the ripe old age of thirty.  What is so important about him becoming 30?  Well, there’s a chance for him to write himself into the history books again.  In the ‘Most Major wins before turning 30’ chapter, Koepka has now won 4 Majors.  He’s in good company.  Among the seven other illustrious names are golfing heroes Young Tom Morris, Gary Player, Seve Ballesteros and Rory McIlroy.  Even more impressive, Bobby Jones and Jack Nicklaus both notched up 7 Majors before they became 30, so the newly-crowned PGA Champion has just enough time to draw equal with them. Topping that dizzy list is Tiger Woods who managed to win an incredible 10 Majors before his 30th birthday.

 

Brooks Koepka, 2018 and 2019 PGA Champion, we salute you!

 

Wendy Hoad

 

 

Check out all the FINAL SCORES & MORE on the Official PGA site

 

PICTURED:  Brooks Koepka’s moment of glory at Bethpage Black on Sunday.