For the second year in a row, Brooks Koepka has won the U.S. Open. With his win Sunday, he carved out a special place in history as just the seventh man to win back-to-back titles at this major tournament.
He had no plans of letting it go!!
Congratulations @BKoepka 🏆🏆 #BackToBack #USOpenChampionship pic.twitter.com/S9XqDzepn4
— Golf Central (@GolfCentral) June 17, 2018
Last year, Koepka overcame a difficult final round to cap off his first major victory in a very low-scoring tournament at Erin Hills. On Sunday, he surged to the top of the leaderboard and then refused to give it up in a very high-scoring tournament at Shinnecock Hills.
Brooks Koepka *could join* Jack Nicklaus and Zach Johnson as the only players to win a major at both -15 or lower *AND* one at over par.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 17, 2018
The signature of this, Koepka’s second career major title, was his ability to hit clutch par putts, time and time again.
I'd happily let brooks koepka putt for par to save my life and be confident he'd do it. The man has some bottle. He's sunk a good 3/4 6foot+ par putts today. #USOpengolf
— Chris Morrow (@ChrisMorrow44) June 17, 2018
That man @BKoepka looking like @KDTrey5 making these timely shots…
— andre (@andre) June 17, 2018
He simply would not be denied, and as his competitors struggled with consistency he had ice water flowing in his veins.
Brooks Koepka is so cool, he makes Dustin Johnson look nervous.
— Jason Sobel (@JasonSobelTAN) June 17, 2018
That said, this victory didn’t come without a tense moment at the end. On the 18th hold, Koepka’s second shot was truly awful, and he was quite honestly saved by the grandstands, as his ball kicked back toward the green.
Brooks Koepka pulls one way left on 18 with a two-shot lead. May want to get to a TV. #USOpen. pic.twitter.com/GEOxkdDdil
— Mark Harris (@itismarkharris) June 17, 2018
As it was, he ended up carding a bogey on that final hole to make things more interesting than he would have liked. But a win’s a win, and that’s all that matters in the end.
The last man to win back-to-back U.S. Opens was Curtis Strange, back in 1988 and 1989. Before that, it was Ben Hogan in 1950 and 1951.
Brooks Koepka poised to join Tiger Woods and Padraig Harrington as the only players to defend a major title this century. #USOpen
— Nathan Murphy (@nathanmurf) June 17, 2018
Twitter had some great reactions to Brooks Koepka pulling off this rare achievement.
Brooks Koepka got the lead, now he's just stiff-arming everyone with these pars.
— Jason Sobel (@JasonSobelTAN) June 17, 2018
If you keep building fairways that are wide enough to fit Koepka's biceps he's just going to keep winning them
— No Laying Up (@NoLayingUp) June 17, 2018
Brooks Koepka made every putt he needed to make on the back nine, including the bogey putt on 11. He was so clutch. #USOpenChampionship
— Bryan DeNovellis (@bryandeno) June 17, 2018
https://twitter.com/TommyBarrett24/status/1008472065190629376
This is definitely Brooks Koepka's biggest accomplishment since singing "I love beer" on that Michelob Ultra commercial.
— Jason Sobel (@JasonSobelTAN) June 17, 2018
Brooks Koepka winning the US Open every year until he retires is definitely good for golf.
— Joshua Butler (@Jbut00) June 17, 2018
Does Koepka have a pulse? He is one calm dude. And one helluva golfer!!!
— Tony Johnstone (@TonyJohnstone56) June 17, 2018
Big Koepka is a https://t.co/KFly57i0c3 putt like that on those greens you deserve to win.#USOpengolf
— Conario82 (@chrisconway1382) June 17, 2018
First back to back at the Us Open since ‘88 – ‘89 (C Strange).
Koepka is a beast. pic.twitter.com/1HwKHSGewC
— Warren Hargraves 🇨🇦 (@iWarrenYou) June 17, 2018
@usopengolf Koepka called his shots just like Babe Ruth's home run call He has got it confidence of a True Back to Back Champion . He is a Stud. Congrats on a well played tournament.
— Jonathan Whiteside (@jon2878) June 17, 2018
And then there’s this.
Arnold Palmer won $3.6 million in prize money in 52 years on the PGA and Champions Tours. Brooks Koepka will have taken home $4.2 million from last 2 U.S. Opens.
— 1_15_41 🇺🇦 (@ScottMichaux) June 17, 2018
Congratulations to Brooks Koepka for this truly remarkable achievement.