US Open final round: Fleetwood record fails to prevent Koepka retaining title

Runner-up Tommy Fleetwood paid tribute to Brooks Koepka after the American produced a nerveless display to become the first player to successfully defend the US Open in 29 years.
Winner: Brooks Koepka holds up the tophy after retaining his US Open title. Picture: AP Photo/Carolyn KasterWinner: Brooks Koepka holds up the tophy after retaining his US Open title. Picture: AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster
Winner: Brooks Koepka holds up the tophy after retaining his US Open title. Picture: AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster

Fleetwood carded a stunning final round of 63 at Shinnecock Hills, agonisingly missing from eight feet for birdie on the 18th to equal the all-time major record of 62 set by Branden Grace in last year’s Open at Royal Birkdale.

The 27-year-old’s score still matched the lowest in US Open history and set a testing clubhouse target of two over par, with Koepka the only man able to beat it - by a single shot - following a closing 68.

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Fleetwood, who was fourth behind Koepka last year and partnered him in the final round at Erin Hills, said: “It’s my first ever Father’s Day as a father. I enjoyed that and I enjoyed watching the golf.

“As a golf fan, it was good watching how he handled himself down the stretch and how he won another major. As a player who was one behind him it wasn’t great to watch but you have nothing but respect for him and I enjoyed how he did it.

“That was pretty much time well spent. All in all, it’s been a great day.”

Koepka had played just five events before this week after missing several months of the season with a wrist injury and had to recover from being seven over par in the early stages of his second round.

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“I always felt like I had a chance,” the 28-year-old said. “You make a couple of birdies and you make up a lot of ground. I felt like I was never out of it; I was hitting it well, putting it well and just needed to keep grinding.

“I knew the conditions were going to ease up a little bit, and they did and I just took advantage of it. It’s incredible to have my name on there (the trophy) twice and to go back-to-back is even more extraordinary. I am truly honoured.

“I did not drive it great but you can make up so much with a hot putter. The great bogey I made on 11 was big. I would have taken double bogey because we were in jail. I could easily have been derailed with a double or triple bogey.”

Koepka’s friends and family were not at Erin Hills last year but had made the trip to Long Island and he added: “It’s so special to have everyone here this time. Last time no-one saw me.

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“My dad loves golf and it’s incredible to share it with him. This time will be a little sweeter. It’s the second year in a row I haven’t got him anything for Father’s Day. Next year I won’t either as it might bring some good luck!”

Sheffield’s Marr Fitzpatrick was just seven behind the champion after a final round 70.

Final round scores (USA unless stated, par 70, (a) denotes amateur):

281 Brooks Koepka 75 66 72 68

282 Tommy Fleetwood (Eng) 75 66 78 63

283 Dustin Johnson 69 67 77 70

284 Patrick Reed 73 72 71 68

285 Tony Finau 75 72 66 72

286 Daniel Berger 76 71 66 73, Xander Schauffele 72 74 72 68, Tyrrell Hatton

(Eng) 75 70 72 69, Henrik Stenson (Swe) 71 70 74 71

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287 Justin Rose (Eng) 71 70 73 73, Webb Simpson 76 71 71 69

288 Zach Johnson 73 73 72 70, Russell Knox (Sco) 73 71 75 69, Matthew

Fitzpatrick (Eng) 73 70 75 70

289 Kiradech Aphibarnrat (Tha) 76 72 68 73

290 Haotong Li (Chn) 79 68 74 69, Hideki Matsuyama (Jpn) 75 70 79 66, Paul

Casey (Eng) 73 73 73 71, Louis Oosthuizen (Rsa) 74 72 75 69

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291 Steve Stricker 73 75 73 70, Charley Hoffman 71 69 77 74, Brian Gay 73 74 70

74, Dylan Meyer 77 69 71 74, Rickie Fowler 73 69 84 65

292 Francesco Molinari (Ita) 75 72 72 73, Alex Noren (Swe) 72 72 77 71, Jason

Dufner 70 74 79 69, Matthieu Pavon (Fra) 71 77 74 70, Branden Grace (Rsa) 76 69

72 75, Charles Howell III 71 72 77 72, Aaron Baddeley (Aus) 74 72 77 69, Justin

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Thomas 74 70 74 74, Russell Henley 69 73 77 73, Bryson DeChambeau 76 69 73 74,

Ian Poulter (Eng) 69 72 76 75

293 Pat Perez 73 71 77 72, Bill Haas 76 72 74 71, Gary Woodland 79 69 70 75,

Brian Harman 74 70 78 71, Rafael Cabrera-Bello (Spa) 73 71 76 73

294 Sam Burns 71 76 75 72, Ryan Fox (Nzl) 73 72 74 75, Patrick Rodgers 72 72 83

67, Jhonattan Vegas (Ven) 76 72 73 73

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295 Marc Leishman (Aus) 74 69 78 74, Scott Piercy 69 71 79 76, Patrick Cantlay

75 71 76 73

296 Ross Fisher (Eng) 76 71 79 70, (a) Luis Gagne (Crc) 73 74 75 74, Tim

Wilkinson (Nzl) 76 72 78 70, Phil Mickelson 77 69 81 69, Peter Uihlein 75 72 75

74, Jim Furyk 73 71 72 80, Brandt Snedeker 72 76 73 75, Matt Parziale (a) 74 73

74 75

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297 Dean Burmester (Rsa) 75 73 75 74, Chris Naegel 73 73 75 76, Jimmy Walker 75

70 79 73, Mickey DeMorat 72 72 80 73, Tyler Duncan 77 67 81 72

298 Calum Hill (Sco) 75 69 81 73

299 Andrew Johnston (Eng) 73 73 82 71

300 Brendan Steele 72 73 75 80

301 Cameron Wilson 75 73 76 77

302 Kevin Chappell 75 72 78 77

303 (a) Will Grimmer 73 72 78 80

306 Byeong-Hun An (Kor) 71 76 81 78

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