US. Open 2018: Brooks Koepka fights off challengers to successfully defend his title

Alec Brzezinski

US. Open 2018: Brooks Koepka fights off challengers to successfully defend his title image

Brooks Koepka said before this week's U.S. Open began that he was the most confident player in the field, and he was right.

Koepka, who missed three months earlier this year with a wrist injury, successfully defended his U.S. Open title Sunday at Shinnecock Hills by defeating Tommy Fleetwood by one shot.

MORE: US Open: Phil Mickelson celebrates at scene of third-round meltdown

After shooting a 2-under 68 to finish the tournament at 1-over par, Koepka became the first player to win back-to-back U.S. Opens since Curtis Strange in 1988-89, and just the seventh to do it overall.


 

Koepka, 28, became just the fifth player in the Masters era to win multiple U.S. Opens in his 20s and the first since Tiger Woods. No player in that time has won more than two in his 20s.

Fleetwood made waves early Sunday, becoming just the sixth person in U.S. Open history to shoot a 63. Fleetwood made eight birdies and one bogey to fire a 7-under round to finish second at 2-over par.

"I honestly never really thought I was out of it," Fleetwood said after his round. "I just needed a good start. You never know what's going to happen.

"And obviously, we knew they would have made it a bit softer today. Looking at the pins, you knew they were going to be more accessible. I knew I was kind of in it teeing off, but you still have to get off to that good start. 4 under through seven, and it was game on.

"Great to get a yard on that back nine. All the way around, I always felt like I could get myself back in it. It's funny, though, when you finish, you always feel like you've kind of missed your shot, but we'll see."

Fleetwood waited in the clubhouse for over three hours waiting to see if his score would be good enough for at least a playoff, but Koepka prevailed.


 

Dustin Johnson birdied the 72nd hole to shoot a final-round even-par 70 and finish third at 3 over. Johnson held a four-shot lead after two rounds, but shot 7 over on the weekend to narrowly miss out on another major title.

Reigning Masters champion Patrick Reed made an early move, jumping to within one shot of the lead, but he fell back during the middle of his round to settle for fourth at 4 over. Reed shot a 2-under 68 Sunday with six birdies and four bogeys.

Tony Finau double-bogeyd the final hole to finish fifth at 5 over. He shot a 2-over 72 in Round 4.

Xander Schauffele, Henrik Stenson, Daniel Berger and Tyrrell Hatton all tied for sixth at 6 over. Hatton and Schauffele both shot under par Sunday, and Schauffele has now recorded two straight top 10s at U.S. Opens.

"I'm really happy with my performance this week. This is a really tough golf course, so, you know, it's nice to find a bit of form again," Hatton said after his round.

"It's been a bit of a struggle for me recently, so I've had three missed cuts in a row, which isn't ideal. To come in here and hopefully finish top 10 is really good and hopefully that sets me up for a really good summer now."

Justin Rose and Players Championship winner Webb Simpson snuck into the top 10 at 7 over.

Alec Brzezinski