PITTSFORD, N.Y. (AP) — All those injuries that made Brooks Koepka wonder if he was still among golf’s elite were put to rest Sunday at Oak Hill when he beat the strongest field of the year and won the PGA Championship for his fifth major title.
Determined as ever to restore his reputation as the player to beat in the majors, Koepka ran off three quick birdies early, never lost the lead amid a gritty fight from Viktor Hovland and closed with a 3-under 67 for a two-shot victory.
He won his third Wanamaker Trophy — only Jack Nicklaus and Walter Hagen with five and Tiger Woods with four have won the PGA Championship more time — and capture his first major in four years.
Koepka looked as powerful as ever and left little doubt with his two-shot win over hard-luck Hovland (68) and Scottie Scheffler, who closed with a 65 and returned to No. 1 in the world.
Koepka shared the loudest cheers with California club pro Michael Block, who put on an amazing show over four days. Block made a hole-in-one on the 15th hole while playing with Rory McIlroy, and then made two tough par putts at the end for a fourth straight 70.
He tied for 15th, giving him a return date to the PGA Championship next year.
KORN FERRY TOUR
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Grayson Murray built a big enough lead that he made double bogey on the par-5 18th hole Sunday for a 4-under 68 and still won the AdventHealth Championship by one shot on the Korn Ferry Tour.
The victory moves Murray to No. 14 on the Korn Ferry Tour, giving him a chance to finish among the top 30 at the end of the year and earn a full card on the PGA Tour.
Murray started the final round two shots behind Wilson Furr and was flawless, including an eagle on the par-5 13th to seize control. He was three shots ahead going to the 18th.
Furr shot 71 and tied for second with Rico Hoey, who had a 68.
Murray has one PGA Tour victory, the Barbasol Championship in 2017 held the same week as the British Open.
OTHER TOURS
Carlota Ciganda closed with a 1-over 73 at Trump National for a one-shot victory over Klara Davidson Spilkova in the Aramco Team Series-Florida on the Ladies European Tour. Lydia Ko (73) and Olivia Cowan (68) tied for third. ... Jenny Coleman beat Dottie Ardina and Sophie Hausmann with a birdie in a one-hole playoff to claim her first Epson Tour victory at the IOA Golf Classic at Alaqua Country Club in Longwood, Florida, after heavy rain left the course unplayable and forced the cancellation of the third round. ... Jesper Svensson closed with a 5-under 66 for a one-shot victory over Brandon Stone in the B-NL Challenge in The Netherlands, giving the Swede a victory in his first Challenge Tour start of the year. ... Adilson Da Silva of Brazil shot a 6-under 66 and made birdie on the first playoff hole over Keith Horne to win the Riegler & Partner Legends on the Legends Tour in Austria. ... Miyu Yamashita won for the second time this year on the Japan LPGA, closing with a 6-under 65 for a seven-shot victory over Akie Iwai. ... Yu Jin Sung won the Doosan Match Play Championship over Hyun Kyung Park on the Korea LPGA.
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