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St. Louis, August 13
Big-hitting American Brooks Koepka fought off an inspired challenge from Tiger Woods to win the PGA Championship to claim his second Major title this season.
Koepka withstood stifling pressure and sweltering heat to card a 4-under 66, which was good enough for a two-shot victory over Woods, who was chasing his first Major title in a decade and came close by returning a 64, his lowest final round in a Major. Adam Scott, carrying the added motivation of winning for friend Jarrod Lyle who died earlier in the week, battled Koepka toe-to-toe but finished third after a bogey at the last left the Australian with a final round 67 and three strokes adrift. Koepka, who finished on a 16-under 264, has now won three of the last seven Majors. While Koepka stumbled with bogeys at the 4th and 5th he showcased his mental toughness as he undid much of the damage with a run of three consecutive birdies going into the turn.
Woods, however, pounced with four birdies and a bogey on his front nine to get within one stroke of the lead and with the 42-year-old in the running to win his first Major since the 2008 US Open, Tiger-mania was at a fever pitch. The 14-times Major winner, who had whipped the massive gallery into frenzy on the front nine, sent them into absolute hysteria with two more birdies at the 12th and 13th that again vaulted him within one of the lead.
While Woods and Scott were mounting charges on the way home, Koepka stalled with five consecutive pars. But when Scott grabbed a share of top and with Woods nipping at his heels one behind, Koepka again showed his steel with birdies at the 15th and 16th to regain control, even if Woods kept up the pressure until the end by rolling in a 20-foot birdie at the 18th. — Reuters
Leaderboard
Pos. Player Total
1 Brooks Koepka -16
2 Tiger Woods -14
3 Adam Scott -13
T4 Stewart Cink -11
T4 Jon Rahm -11
T6 Thomas Pieters -10
Koepka’s Majors
4
7