Historical victory for American at Oak Hill CC

American Brooks Koepka had a tantalising final round on Sunday in the 105th US PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, New York, USA.  The 33-year old from Florida kept his cool against an on-form Norwegian golfer Viktor Hovland and the number two in the world ranking from America, Scottie Scheffler, to claim a magical fifth Major title.  And that is not all, Koepka now holds three US PGA titles which is one for the history books.

 

 

 

Brooks Koepka shot an impressive tournament score of 9-under par with rounds of 72, 66, 66 and 67 to finish two strokes ahead of Hovland and Scheffler.  Unlike Friday and Saturday, the sun shone down at the Oak Hill CC on the final day providing perfect conditions to shoot a low score.  Softer greens and lush green rough and fairways enabled players to really attack the parkland par-70 course and so give Koepka some superb challenges on Sunday.

 

European hopefuls

 

There was a tiny glimmer of hope for a European victory with four-times Major winner Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) and 2013 US Open Champion Justin Rose (England) both making birdies on the first hole. But it was 25-year old Viktor Hovland that seemed to be Koepka’s biggest threat.  As tournament leaders they teed-off in the final group and produced two superb rounds.  In fact it was really a matchplay scenario with both players making a par at the first hole.  Then Koepka began to roll in the birdie putts on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th holes to get to 9-under par.  Hovland fought back with birdies at the 4th and 5th to get to 7-under and keep in touch with the leader.  The exciting match for the covetted 2023 US PGA Championship title was on!

 

 

Just as the match was hotting-up Koepka’s drive finished in the water at the most difficult hole on the course, the 6th.  He made bogey to slip back to 8-under while the Norwegian player posted a par out of the bunker to stay at 7-under.  The American then dropped a shot at the 7th.  Hovland too.  Perhaps Koepka’s two-year knee injury was affecting his game?

 

Hole-in-one hero Michael Block

 

Meanwhile, the 46-year old PGA Club Professional of Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club, Michael Block was having the time of his life.  His love for the game of golf saw him make the cut and end up playing with Rory McIlroy on Sunday.  And if that wasn’t special enough, he made a superb tee-shot on the 151-yard 15th hole called ‘The Plateau’ which plopped directly into the hole.  The hole-in-one for the American delighted the fans like crazy around the course.  He soared up the leaderboard for a final enviable 15th position of 1-over par which means he will be invited back to the PGA Championship next year.

 

American Patrick Cantlay drove the short par-4 14th of 320 yards where he holed the putt for an exciting eagle which saw him shoot up the leaderboard and take a share of 9th place on 1-under par with Justin Rose and Cameron Smith.

 

Indeed, Australia’s Cameron Smith made seven birdies but, alas, also two bogeys to finish with a best round of the day score of 65.  Other players who made a charge on Sunday with a 5-under par 65 were Americans Scottie Scheffler and Kurt Kitayama, Sep Straka (Austria) and Cam Davis (Australia) who incidentally also had an eagle at the 14th.

 

Back to the battle between Koepka and Hovland

 

As often as Brooks Koepka’s putts seemed to slide in the hole for birdie, Viktor Hovland’s putts just pulled up agonisingly short.  However, at the 11th Hovland had a chance to pull back as Koepka’s ball found the grassy edge of the bunker.  The American played a super shot giving himself the opportunity of making a par but instead made bogey.  Hovland made a solid par.

 

Meanwhile 26-year old Masters Champion Scottie Scheffler was busy making a lot of birdies at Oak Hill CC.  After 13 holes he was just three behind Koepka.  This final day of the US PGA Championship was beginning to get pretty nail-biting.

 

Viktor Hovland was rated as the number one player with approaches this week.  Not too surprisingly he birdied the par-5 13th to get within one shot of the leader and then popped another in the hole for birdie at the 14th.  Koepka retaliated with a birdie there too which means the American is still one shot ahead on 9-under.

 

Hovland had a frustating hole at the par-4 16th where his ball ended in the fairway bunker just like Corey Conners yesterday.  And just like the American, Hovland played his shot and it disappeared into the grassy lip.  He took a penalty drop and finished with a devastating double-bogey.  Koepka made birdie giving him a two-shot advantage over Hovland.

 

Another equally-dazed person at Oak Hill CC is Koepka’s caddie, Ricky Elliott. He was born in Portrush, Northern Ireland and started caddying at Royal Portrush Golf Club.  He has been part of Koepka’s team for the last ten years so has brought the player from Florida to unrivalled success through the last five Majors.

 

Victor Perez on form for KLM Open

 

Interesting news for the coming week as Victor Perez from France his heading back to Holland in defence of his 2022 KLM Open title.  He played well at Oak Hill CC with four fine rounds of 70, 72, 69 and 69 for a share of 12th spot on level par.  Defending Champion, Justin Thomas, made the cut and finished on a score of 292 for a share of 65th place.

 

With two holes to go, the Norwegian had a teeny-weeny chance of success.  He made par at the 17th while Koepka was contemplating his second shot after his drive went well right.  He had to be happy with a bogey.  Scheffler in the meantime had squeezed into second place on 7-under par with a super round of 65.  Hovland needed to conjure a birdie down the last hole which is exactly what he did when he holed a beautiful putt from five yards or more to score a round of 7-under par 68 and eventually share second spot with Scheffler.

 

Koepka was closer by and needed to nudge a putt of about three yards into the hole for birdie.  His putt just wriggled short leaving him with a bogey.  But who needs to take chances when your fifth Major is within your grasp?

 

Koepka’s fifth Major victory

 

With a score of 9-under par 33-year old American Brooks Koepka has won his third US PGA Championship and his fifth Major title.  Now that is what I call really impressive golf!  And with the presentation of the Wanamaker Trophy, Koepka was a truly delighted golfer once again.

 

Well done, Brooks Koepka!  You are the 2023 US PGA Champion and the impressive winner of five Majors.  We are truly proud of you!

 

Wendy Hoad

Editor

 

 

MAIN PHOTOGRAPH:  Brooks Koepka celebrates his victory in the US PGA Championship at Oak Hill CC, Rochester, New York, USA.  BELOW: Norway’s Viktor Hovland was a strong contender and settled for second place with Scottie Scheffler (America).