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US Open: Brooks Koepka’s was so close to defining history

By Veronica Elizabeth Bruno

PEBBLE BEACH, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 16: Brooks Koepka of the United States plays a shot from the third tee during the final round of the 2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links on June 16, 2019 in Pebble Beach, California. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
PEBBLE BEACH, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 16: Brooks Koepka of the United States plays a shot from the third tee during the final round of the 2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links on June 16, 2019 in Pebble Beach, California. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images) /
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Brooks Koepka was within one shot of the leader, Gary Woodland, at one point of the final round of the US Open, but just was shy of Woodland’s fantastic run to win his first major.

Brooks Koepka shot two 69’s followed by two 68’s, but still was unable to defend for a record third US Open. His bogey at the 12th combined with playing it too safe in the back nine, and missing his chance on the crucial 18th cost him his date with history.

“I don’t think anyone in the world played as well as Gary did this week,” said Koepka in his interview afterward.

Woodland’s performance on the second day sealed the major milestone for the Kansas native. Shooting a phenomenal 65 on Friday made him the player to chase, becoming one of the older champions to collect his first US Open. Woodland finished with panache, adding another stroke with a birdie, increasing his impressive lead to three.

But for a while, it looked like the chase was on. At the beginning of the front nine, it looked like a three-horse race between Woodland, Justin Rose (the 2014 US Open winner), and Koepka.

The 29-year-old Brooks Koepka hit the ground running, firing off four birdies in his first six holes. His form was the equivalent of golf explosion and he seemed to thrive under the pressure to take on the front runner. Rose matched him as they hunted down the world No. 25 golfer, surging ahead were just one shot separated him and the leader.

Koepka and Rose kept right on the American’s heels all day until the errors unleashed once the three got to the back nine. Koepka made a run for it at hole 11, progressing to 11 under while Woodland’s bogey threw him back to 12 under par. The momentum shifted as Justin Rose played conservative and fell behind, making it a two-way race to the finish between the two compatriots Woodland and Koepka.

As nerveless as they were in the front nine, the mistakes were unleashed once they started the back nine run, with Koepka displaying a topsy-turvy game that placed him closer to a clearly nervous Woodland. Crucial mistakes on the 12th and 13th holes took Rose out of contention. By the 14th, Rose’s hopes had been dashed.

Woodland capitalized on the mistakes by his peers and stepped up his game in a big way, birdying the 14th, and closed out the championship with a beautiful birdie putt that sealed the win on the 18th.

But for a brief moment, it looked like Koepka might have had it. He needed to eagle by the time he hit the drive on the 18th. He needed the shot of his life, and he hit just that but was unable to carry it forward. Koepka ended the last hole with a painful par five, squandering an incredible near-birdie that just missed the last hole.

Brooks Koepka got so close to history but just missed it by a hair. Still, his Top 2 finish at The Masters and this year’s PGA major championship victory make him one of the top contenders heading into The Open next month. No other player has won as many back-to-back majors recently, in such a short timeframe. He is the undisputed world No. 1 and remains the player to beat at any major.

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