Brooks Koepka became the first golfer since Curtis Strange in 1989 to win back-to-back US Open titles with a gritty victory at Shinnecock Hills.
Starting the final round tied for the lead with three others, the long-hitting American nailed three birdies in his opening five holes against one dropped shot to make the turn at the top pf the leaderboard. After a birdie at 10 and a battling bogey at the tough par-three 11th, Koepka needed to play the final seven holes in even par to edge England’s Tommy Fleetwood who had shot a stunning 63 to set the clubhouse target of two-over-par.
Koepka picked up another shot at the par-five 16th to build a two-shot cushion and had the luxury of a bogey at the final hole for a closing 68 and a winning total of one-over-par 281.
Fleetwood enjoyed the consolation of becoming only the sixth player to post a 63 at the US Open, joining Justin Thomas (2017), Vijay Singh (2003), Tom Weiskopf (1980), Jack Nicklaus (1980) and Johnny Miller (1973).
World No 1 Dustin Johnson, one of the 54-hole co-leaders, finished alone in third place on three-over-par after a closing 70, followed by two more Americans, Masters champion Patrick Reed (68) and Tony Finau (72), in fourth and fifth respectively.
Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat closed with a 73 to win the race for top Asian honours in 15th place on nine-over-par, one ahead of Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama (66) and China’s Li Haotong (69).
