U.S. Open roundtable: How significant was Koepka’s win?

SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — Each day at U.S. Open, PGATOUR.COM’s staff writers will dive into the big issues and questions everyone is discussing. Brooks Koepka went back-to-back for just the seventh time in U.S. Open history. Just how significant is that? Ben Everill, Staff Writer: It’s pretty impressive if you ask me. Especially as it came on two completely different styles of course. Erin Hills was a birdie fest for the bombers. Shinnecock Hills was a grind for everyone. I’ve just heard Koepka is lobbying for Pebble Beach to be renamed Pebble “Hillsâ€� for next year. Sean Martin, Events Editor: It’s historic. Ben Hogan, Curtis Strange and now Koepka are the only men to do it since World War II. And, in contemporary terms, only four of the top 50 players in the world have multiple majors. And he’s only 28. Cameron Morfit, Staff Writer: Very. A lot of guys would shrink from that sort of weighty history. I loved his swagger, and he totally backed it up. Jonathan Wall, Equipment Insider: In terms of golf history, I think it’s very significant. Winning a major isn’t easy; going back-to-back at the U.S. Open by the age of 28 is even more impressive. Not only that, he managed to show his entire arsenal by going low to win at Erin Hills and grinding it out at Shinnecock. His game clearly travels. Brooks is now a multiple major winner… what are you expecting from him over the next 5-10 years? Everill: Given his outstanding finishes in major championships over the last couple of years – he has been top 25 in 13 of his last 15 majors and top 10 in seven of those – I certainly can’t rule out further victories. He’s only 28 and an absolute specimen of an athlete. If he doubles his total in the next five years I won’t be shocked. Martin: Predictions are a fool’s errand, so here we go. As long as he can stay healthy, I think he can pick up two more majors in the next decade. He has finished no worse than T21 in his past 11 majors. He gives himself lots of opportunities in the big events. I see a FedExCup in his future for that very reason. Morfit: Trophies. It’s odd to me that he hasn’t racked up more Ws, but he’s only 28 and spent a good chunk of his career in Europe. I think he’s got a game that can travel anywhere, and his caddie, Ricky Elliott, was telling me he’s long been one of the best putters on TOUR.   Wall: He’s now finished inside the top 25 in 13 of his last 15 major championships. If he continues to produce competitive finishes at a similar clip, he’ll likely get at least two more over the next 5-10 years. I don’t think it’s that far of a stretch to say he gets to five or six if a few breaks go his way. At this point, the only thing holding him back is his health.  Tommy Fleetwood’s round was just the sixth 63 in U.S. Open history. Where do his efforts rank in your mind? Everill: Of course people will say the USGA reacted to Saturday’s criticism by watering the greens too much and providing easy pins but regardless, shooting 63 on a Sunday at a major is epic stuff. Fleetwood is the real deal. Had he read his putt on the last hole just a little better we could have easily seen our first two-hole playoff. Fourth last year, second this year … watch this space. Martin: I think he’s kicking himself for missing that last birdie putt. I think the back-nine pressure on Koepka would have been exponentially higher if he’d posted a 62. It’s reminiscent of 1986, when Chip Beck missed a 5-footer on the 72nd hole. He finished two back but thought he would’ve exerted much more pressure on the last groups if he was one stroke closer while sitting in the clubhouse. Morfit: It could’ve been a 61 even, given his chances on the last three holes. I like everything about this guy but especially his demeanor.  Wall: Shooting 63 at Shinnecock Hills is incredibly impressive and has to go down as one of the best rounds in major championship history based on what was at stake Sunday. That being said, the USGA made the course more gettable after Saturday’s fiasco. It’s a minor footnote that likely won’t be mentioned when people remember Fleetwood’s impressive round.  Tony Finau has finished in the top-10 of both majors this year. Will he break through at some point? Everill: He certainly has the talent. Finau himself says he is built for championship golf. I’d like to see him get his second PGA TOUR win before I am ready to endorse him as a likely major winner of the near future though. He’s a champion guy so you can’t help but wish him success. Wall: Similar to Brooks Koepka, he’s a twenty-something bomber who could break out at any given moment. I don’t think it’s a matter of if but when Finau gets a major. I think it happens in the next three years.  Martin: Majors are tough to win. Besides the strong field and tough conditions, it’s a numbers game. There’s only four of them per year. I was impressed with how he handled himself in the final group, though. He battled on the back nine to stay in contention.  Morfit: Absolutely he will. Major talent. Insanely long. Really hard worker. That’s a good combination. Dustin Johnson let another 54-hole lead go. Is this of any concern going forward? Everill: The numbers don’t read well. 0-3 when leading/co leading through 54 holes in a major … Only four wins in his last 10 attempts on TOUR with 54 hole leads … BUT I don’t think it is a concern. DJ doesn’t seem to let much worry him and it was a simple case of his putter going cold on the weekend. He hit the greens Sunday but just couldn’t buy a putt. Martin: I do think there’s something there. He lost a six-shot lead earlier this season at the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions. It’s also interesting that his only major victory came at a tournament where he didn’t know his score because of the controversial ruling. Wall: No way. The course bordered on unfair during the third round, turning even the best players in the world into 10 handicaps. If DJ gets course conditions anywhere close to what we saw on Sunday, I think he wins by two or three. He just ran into a USGA buzzsaw that torpedoed his chances.  Morfit: Nah. He’s so good he just waits for the next one. And there’s always a next one.

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