The place was practically empty, the masses that usually follow not allowed inside the gates at Augusta National. For Tiger Woods, who opened with 68, the day was completely odd and still entirely familiar.
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Spieth getting accustomed to front-runner role
CROMWELL, Conn. — It never entered Brooks Koepka’s mind to pull out of this week’s Travelers Championship. Despite the grind of winning his second consecutive U.S. Open, Koepka is back in action this week at TPC River Highlands. It’s the first time since Justin Rose in 2013 that the U.S. Open winner has played the following week. “If I say I’m going to do something, I’ll do it,â€� Koepka said Wednesday. “I’m not going to pull out just because of last week. “And we’re playing good, so you might as well ride the momentum.â€� A year ago when he won with a record-tying score of 16 under at Erin Hills, Koepka took a month off before resuming his schedule at the next major, the Open Championship. This year, he committed to Travelers before winning last week at Shinnecock Hills with a score of 1 over. His celebration Sunday night didn’t start until just before midnight. Several pizzas were ordered, with family and friends savoring the moment of their man becoming the first player since Curtis Strange in 1989 to successfully defend a U.S. Open title. He then rested the next two days and arrived at TPC River Highlands on Wednesday afternoon, where he promptly went to the range for a quick practice session to loosen up. He tees off at 8 a.m. ET on Thursday with the other two big winners this season — Webb Simpson (THE PLAYERS Championship) and Patrick Reed (Masters). When asked if he was rested, Koepka’s reply was simple. “I guess so,” he said. “I don’t really know. I’m still going on adrenaline.â€�
Just as the golf world was beginning to come off the high of Tiger Woods winning the Masters, we’re already on to the PGA Championship. The 101st edition of “the fourth major” certainly doesn’t feel like the fourth major this year, some of that thanks to Woods’ win but also due to this year’s host venue, Bethpage Black. The AW Tillinghast design on Long Island, which has previously hosted a pair of U.S. Opens and a pair of FedEx Cup Playoff events, always presents a stiff test for the world’s best, and this year should be no different.
