‘Major Hunter’ Koepka wins second major PGA Championship this season, third overall

‘Major Hunter’ Brooks Koepka (33, USA)’s DNA in major tournaments was still the same even after moving to LIV Golf.

Koepka rose to the top of the PGA Championship (total prize money of $17.5 million), the second major tournament of the PGA Tour season. This is the 3rd personal win in this tournament alone, and the 5th major title out of 9 wins. Koepka became the first player from LIV Golf to win a major tournament since its inception last year.

Koepka hit 3 under par 67 with 7 birdies and 4 bogeys in the final 4th round of the tournament held at Oak Hill CC (par 70, 7380 yards) in Rochester, New York, USA on the 22nd (Korean time).

Koepka, who scored a final total of 9 under par 271, won the championship by two strokes over Victor Hoblan (Norway) and Scotty Scheffler (USA) who were tied for second place. The winning prize is $3.15 million.

Koepka, who tasted the PGA Tour victory in two years after the 2021 Phoenix Open, was named the 20th player in history to win at least 5 majors.

Koepka’s victory is also the first time that a player from LIV Golf, which was launched last year, won a major tournament. Koepka also took the lead in the Masters held last month, but then faltered in the final round and finished the tournament in a tie for second place.

It was an unwelcome situation for the PGA Tour.

They can ban LIV golf players from participating in the tournaments they host, but all major tournaments have different governing associations, so LIV golf players are participating. Currently, LIV Golf’s tour is not given a world ranking, so players are trying to win major tournaments with energy and try to rank high. Fortunately (?), no player belonging to LIV has won a major championship for nearly a year, but with Koepka reaching the top this time, the PGA Tour suffered a cold heart.

In particular, the part where Hoblan, who was second by one stroke, and Scotty Scheffler, who was ranked second in the world, failed to surpass Koepka is a part that leaves much to be desired on the PGA Tour.

Schaeffler, who played in front of Koepka’s two groups, cut 4 strokes until the 14th hole (par 4) and caught up with Koepka by two strokes, but Koepka added birdies on the 14th and 16th holes, effectively ending Schaeffler’s championship competition. .안전놀이터

Koepka’s rival, Bryson Dishambeau, who is also a member of LIV, tied for 4th place with Cam Davis and Kurt Kitayama with a 3-under par, while Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland), ranked 3rd in the world, tied for 7th place (2 under par).

Michael Block (USA), a pro with the club, tied for 15th place (1 over par, 281 strokes) and will be able to participate in next year’s PGA Championship.

Lee Gyeong-hoon, the only Korean player to pass the cut, tied for 29th place (5 over par) by reducing one stroke by tying 4 birdies and 3 bogeys that day.

Currently, world number 1 John Rahm was tied for 50th (7 over par 287 strokes).