SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. – Brooks Koepka’s victory at last year’s U.S. Open sent traditionalists into a tizzy. Those accustomed to knee-high rough and narrow fairways were disgusted with Koepka’s ability to wield driver with impunity on a course that was too wide and too soft for their liking. One year after winning on a modern golf course making its U.S. Open debut, Koepka has a chance to make history on one of the country’s most historic layouts. Shinnecock Hills hosted the second U.S. Open and is the only course to host this tournament in three different centuries. This venerable Long Island layout unquestionably offers an old-school test. Koepka is one of four players to share the 54-hole lead at Shinnecock Hills with a score of 3-over 213. Last year, he shot 16 under par to win at Erin Hills. His ability to excel on two disparate designs is testament to a game built on more than brute strength. Curtis Strange (1988-89) and Ben Hogan (1950-51) are the only two men to win back-to-back U.S. Opens since World War II. They crafted games that emphasized accuracy over distance to meet the strict demands of their national championship. Koepka, with his linebacker’s build and biceps that burst out of his tailored sleeves, is a modern player who hits the ball distances that were once unfathomable. But he also has a strong short game and the fortitude to withstand a stern setup. Koepka has finished no worse than T21 in his past 10 major championships, including five top-10s. He has four consecutive top-20s at the U.S. Open. He won last year and finished T4 in 2014. “I enjoy firing away from pins and having to be conservative sometimes and just finding a way to get through it,� Koepka said. “I feel like the harder the golf course, the better.� They don’t get much harder than Shinnecock Hills on Saturday. The field averaged 75.3 strokes as the greens grew firm in the warm, windy conditions. Hole locations set near the steep edges of Shinnecock’s putting surfaces forced players to avoid the hole with their approach shots. Koepka’s 72 tied the low score among the last 20 players to tee off. He was 1 under par for the first 11 holes but bogeyed three of his final seven holes. He holed a 63-foot par putt on the 14th green, then bogeyed the 15th after his wedge shot landed on the green but rolled into a bunker. He three-putted the par-3 17th before making par on the last hole. Daniel Berger and Tony Finau will play in Sunday’s final group after shooting third-round 66s. They both made the cut with just a shot to spare before shooting Saturday’s low scores. The past two U.S. Open champions, Koepka and Dustin Johnson, are their closest pursuers. Johnson, 33, is a friend and mentor to the 28-year-old Koepka. They share a swing coach, Claude Harmon, and trainer, Joey Diovisalvi, in South Florida. “We’ll be friends after the round, not during� said Johnson, who won last week’s FedEx St. Jude Classic to regain in the top spot in the Official World Golf Ranking. Koepka is playing just his seventh tournament of the year after missing nearly four months with a wrist injury. He reinjured the wrist at THE PLAYERS but finished T11 after a record-tying 63 in the final round. He shot two more 63s in his next start to finish second to Justin Rose at the Fort Worth Invitational. “My game is in a good spot,� Koepka said. “I feel like you have to kind of take (the trophy) from me, to be honest.� He’ll accomplish a historic feat if he can keep his grasp on it.
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