Brooks Koepka holds the Wanamaker Trophy after winning the PGA Championship golf tournament on May 21, 2023 at Oak Hill Country Club. Photo Credit: AP
Four-time major winner Brooks Koepka clung to a one-stroke lead midway through the final round of the PGA Championship on Sunday, inching closer to becoming the first player to win a major with Saudi-backed LIV Golf.
The 33-year-old American carded three consecutive birdies but also made two bogeys to stand at seven-under par as he finished the front nine at Oak Hill with Norway’s Viktor Hovland, looking for his first major win, on six. Second. Under
Last year’s Masters winner American Scotty Scheffler, seeded second, was third at four-under.
Koepka was among the stars who jumped from the PGA Tour to break LIV Golf, which offered a record $25 million purse for 54-hole events, despite concerns over Saudi Arabia’s human rights record.
With a legal battle between them in court the following May, the PGA banned LIV talents from its events. Meanwhile, the majors provide the only outlet for competition between players from rival tours.
Overall, there were six major winners from LIV in a field of 156 with a combined 15 major crowns, but none captured as a member of the upstart circuit, not even Australian Cam Smith’s British Open title last July.
Smith, who finished at one-under 279 after a five-under 65, dismissed LIV players with big wins as news.
“I gave up on that narrative about six months ago,” Smith said. “I think there are some people who are trying to kick it a little bit.
“We’re still out there. We haven’t forgotten how to play golf. We’re all great golfers, and we know what we can do, and I think that’s what we’re trying to do.”
There was no boos at the first tee for Koepka, who heard him on Saturday before roaring in shooting a 66.
kopka healthy again
Koepka, healthy after 2021 knee surgery, was hampered in his last two seasons, making four-foot birdie putts on the second and par-3 third and birdieing the par-5 fourth from inside nine feet.
At six, Koepka’s tee shot went into the penalty area and he two-putted for bogey. At turn seven, he missed the green from his approach and made bogey but retained the lead when Hovland bogeyed.
Koepka entered the final round at last month’s Masters but, in his words, was “suppressed” by Spain’s top-ranked Jon Rahm from the green jacket.
After sharing second with LIV’s Phil Mickelson at Augusta National, Koepka can claim a third career PGA Championship. Only Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Walter Hagen have won more.
Scheffler, who would overtake Rahm for world number one with a win, birdied seven and eight and responded with a bogey on the back nine to start his back nine.
Cam Davis of Australia, Corey Connors of Canada and Americans Kurt Kitayama and Bryson DeChambeau shared fourth on three-under.
Austrian Sepp Straka had taken the clubhouse lead at two-under 278 after a closing 65.
Also on two-under were Victor Perez of France and four-time major winner Rory McIlroy.
The world number three from Northern Ireland, seeking his first major since 2014, carded four birdies and three bogeys in 12 holes.