The 2013 Masters can go toe-to-toe with any major in terms of drama, with Adam Scott pulling out an emotional playoff win to become the first Australian champ.
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SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — Brooks Koepka has the game to win a U.S. Open on any course. One year after Koepka overpowered the wide fairways of Erin Hills in a U.S. Open remembered for low scoring, he navigated his way through the brutal conditions of Shinnecock Hills and closed with a 2-under 68 to become the first repeat champion in 29 years. Curtis Strange, the last player to go back-to-back in this major, watched the entire final round Sunday as the Fox Sports reporter on the ground, and they shared a brief hug off the 18th green after Koepka tapped in for bogey and a one-shot victory. He captured his second major on Sunday. It would not have been possible without his 72 on Saturday in conditions so severe the last 45 players to tee off in the third round didn’t break par. The USGA conceded the course was over the top and pledged to get it right for the final round. No one took advantage like Tommy Fleetwood, who made eight birdies — none of the two par 5s — and became the sixth player to shoot 63 in the U.S. Open. That got him within one shot of Koepka, who still had 11 holes to play. But he never caught him and had to settle for the silver medal. Koepka, with a performance and a demeanor reminiscent of Retief Goosen winning at Shinnecock Hills in 2004, began the back nine with three pivotal putts — one for birdie, one for bogey, one for par. He seized control with a wedge to 3 feet for birdie on the par-5 16th for a two-shot lead, and he never flinched until it no longer mattered. Koepka pulled his approach to the 18th off the grandstand, pitched on to about 12 feet and two-putted for a bogey. He finished at 1-over 281, 13 shots higher than his winning score at Erin Hills last year. It was the first time since 2013 at Merion that no one broke par in the U.S. Open. Dustin Johnson, part of the four-way tie for the lead to start the final round, couldn’t keep up with one of his best friends. Johnson was one shot behind at the turn until three-putting three times on the back nine. A birdie on the final hole gave him an even-par 70 to finish alone in third. Masters champion Patrick Reed, who briefly shared the lead with five birdies through seven holes, stumbled on the back and had to settle for a 68 to finish fourth.
Bryson Nimmer led the way at open qualifying for the Mexico Open at Vidanta, carding 7-under 65 at The Clubs of Kingwood (Deerwood) in Texas to secure a spot in the field at Vidanta Vallarta in Vallarta, Mexico. Also earning spots in the field were Jeffrey Kang (6-under 66), Turk Pettit (4-under 68) and Patrick Flavin (4-under 68). Pettit and Flavin survived a 6-for-2 playoff to earn their spots in the field. Falling short in extra holes were David Kim, Benjamin Lein, Danny Guise and Michael Arnaud. The qualifier was contested a week ahead of time, allowing players time to make international travel arrangements for the event. The Mexico Open, contested since 1944 and affiliated with various Tours at different points in time, is set to be played as a PGA TOUR event for the first time. In all, 57 players competed for four spots in the Mexico Open field. For all scores from the Mexico Open qualifier, click here. Here’s a capsule look at the four Mexico Open qualifiers … BRYSON NIMMER (65) Age: 25 Hometown: Bluffton, South Carolina Alma mater: Clemson PGA TOUR starts: 8 Cuts made: 5 Best PGA TOUR finish: T11, 2022 Corales Puntacana Championship Notes: In March, finished T11 at the Corales Puntacana Championship as a Monday qualifier, one stroke short of a top-10 that would have earned him a spot in the following week’s Valero Texas Open … Currently holds 38 non-member FedExCup points, which would place him No. 219 in the season-long standings. The top-200 upon the conclusion of the Regular Season will gain Korn Ferry Tour Finals entry, with a chance at earning a PGA TOUR card … Had a decorated career at Clemson, where he was a four-time first-team all-ACC selection, joining PGA TOUR winners Jonathan Byrd and D.J. Trahan as Clemson men’s golfers to accomplish the feat … Nimmer and his dad Tony became the first father-son all-ACC duo in Clemson golf history. JEFFREY KANG (66) Age: 30 Hometown: Los Angeles, California Alma mater: University of Southern California PGA TOUR starts: 1 Cuts made: 0 Best PGA TOUR finish: MC, 2022 WM Phoenix Open Notes: Made his first career TOUR start at the WM Phoenix Open in February, into which he also Monday qualified. Memorably earned his spot in the field on the 10th playoff hole; the playoff interestingly included Patrick Flavin … Won 2018 Chengdu Championship on PGA TOUR Series-China, one of six top-25s in 14 starts that season … Has spent two seasons on PGA TOUR Canada and has made three career Korn Ferry Tour starts. TURK PETTIT (68, advanced via 6-for-2 playoff) Age: 23 Hometown: Opelika, Alabama Alma mater: Clemson PGA TOUR starts: 1 Cuts made: 0 Best PGA TOUR finish: MC, 2021 Fortinet Championship Notes: Crossed paths with Nimmer for two seasons at Clemson, 2017-18 and 2018-19 … Was a two-year starting high school quarterback for Lee-Scott Academy; was also high school golf teammates with Korn Ferry Tour member Davis Thompson, who finished No. 2 on the inaugural PGA TOUR University Ranking … Won 2021 NCAA individual men’s golf championship as a senior, becoming the second Clemson men’s golfer (Charles Warren, 1997) to earn that title … Competed on PGA TOUR Canada upon turning pro in summer 2021, winning the Birck Boilermaker Classic and finishing No. 3 on the Order of Merit to earn Korn Ferry Tour membership. PATRICK FLAVIN (68, advanced via 6-for-2 playoff) Age: 26 Hometown: Chicago, Illinois Alma mater: Miami (Ohio) PGA TOUR starts: 4 Cuts made: 3 Best PGA TOUR finish: T17, 2021 Butterfield Bermuda Championship Notes: 3-for-3 in made cuts this season on the PGA TOUR. He Monday qualified into the Butterfield Bermuda Championship (T17) and Puerto Rico Open (T22), and he received a sponsor exemption into the Corales Puntacana Championship (T54) … Finished No. 6 on 2019 PGA TOUR Latinoamerica Order of Merit … Recorded two top-10s in 13 starts on 2020-21 Korn Ferry Tour … Currently holds 76 non-member FedExCup points, which would currently place him No. 196 in the season-long standings, as he chases a top-200 position that would gain Korn Ferry Tour Finals entry in August. 2021-22 Monday qualifier statistics Best finish: Bryson Nimmer, T11 at Corales Puntacana Championship Most times qualified: Patrick Flavin, 3 Last event’s qualifier results (Valero Texas Open): Aaron Baddeley (T18); Shawn Stefani (MC); Jake Kevorkian (MC): Samuel Saunders (MC) Next PGA TOUR qualifier (Wells Fargo Championship): Monday, May 2 at Cattail Creek CC in Glenwood, Maryland
Jon Rahm appears to be able to do things in a timely fashion. In addition to his rapid rise up the Official World Golf Ranking, he’s quickly learning from his mistakes. Rahm, playing alongside tournament host Rory McIlroy, shot 5-under 67 on Friday at Portstewart GC and is one off the lead at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open. He stands at 12 under par, trailing American Daniel Im, who also had a 67 in the second round. Patience, Rahm says, has been key to his success this week. It’s something he’s been working on since displaying a series of angry outbursts in missing the cut at the U.S. Open. “I learned from my mistakes. I made a couple of mistakes in my last two events in the States. I was a
