Defending champion Brooks Koepka hit a final round of 68 to win the 2018 US Open by one shot at Shinnecock Hills.
The world No.9 was one of four Americans - along with Daniel Berger, Tony Finau and Dustin Johnson - who started Sunday’s round tied for the lead.
Koepka won his first major at last year’s US Open where he finished four shots clear of Brian Harman and Hideki Matsuyama. This year the ending was a lot closer after Tommy Fleetwood’s final-round heroics.
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The Englishman posted a superb seven-under 63 to equal the lowest round at a US Open and also in the final round of a major.
Reigning Race to Dubai champion Fleetwood started his final round with two birdies in the first three holes and went on to record a total of eight birdies. He was the clubhouse leader for two hours and had to wait and watch the action unfold on the course.
2018 US Open final scores
- 1. Brooks Koepka +1
- 2. Tommy Fleetwood +2
- 3. Dustin Johnson +3
- 4. Patrick Reed +4
- 5. Tony Finau +5
- T6. Xander Schauffele +6
- T6. Tyrrell Hatton +6
- T6. Henrik Stenson +6
- T6. Daniel Berger +6
Koepka kept his cool to two-putt the 18th and finish one shot clear of second-placed Fleetwood. World No.1 Johnson finished third on +3 while Masters champion Patrick Reed was fourth. Finau finished in fifth and four players ended in a tie for sixth.
Koepka is the first player to win back-to-back US Opens since Curtis Strange in 1988-1989. After his final round he said: “It really, really was testing this week to be honest with you. And the fans, thank you for coming out. You guys were loud, I loved it.
“This is incredible. I don’t think I could have dreamed of going back to back. It’s truly special and I am honoured. I always felt like I had a chance. I was never out of it. I just needed to keep grinding. I knew the conditions would ease up a bit and I took advantage of it.”
During his two-hour wait Fleetwood revealed that he watched the action. Praising Koepka’s performance, he said: “It was good as a golf fan watching how he [Koepka] handled himself down the stretch. As a player that was one behind him it wasn’t great to watch, but I have great respect for him.
“This never comes off, but we did say last night ‘shoot the best ever US Open score and you’ll have a chance’. Today is proof you never know what this game is going to bring around. There was a good score out there, and I’m glad I shot it. I always liked watching the US Open as a kid because it was a reality check.”
The third major of the golfing season is The Open Championship at Carnoustie from 19-22 July 2018.
How Twitter reacted to Koepka’s victory at Shinnecock Hills:
