Story highlights
Brooks Koepka wins US PGA Championship
Second major of the year for American
Tiger Woods finishes second
(CNN) —
Tiger Woods came up tantalizingly short in his bid for a 15th major title as Brooks Koepka captured his second of the year by claiming the 100th PGA Championship in St. Louis Sunday.
Woods mounted a typical charge in a thrilling final round at Bellerive Country Club but it was fellow American Koepka who kept his nerve in the face of relentless pressure to hold him off by two shots.
Australian Adam Scott, who drew level with Koepka on the back nine, finished third, a further stroke behind.
Woods’ chances finally receded when he could only make par on the long 17th after finding trouble off the tee while Koepka was reeling off successive birdies on the 15th and 16th to pull clear in the three-way battle for the Wanamaker Trophy.
PHOTO:
Jamie Squire/Getty Images North America/Getty Images
Tiger Woods reacts after holding his birdie putt on the final hole of the PGA Championship to close with a six-under 64.
To massive roars from the gallery, Woods birdied the final hole to complete a final-round 64 for 14-under 266, confirmation that he has returned to his near best after years of setbacks and most recently injuries which threatened his career.
Koepka’s triumph comes hard on the heels of his successful defense of the US Open title in June, with a final-round 66 leaving him on 16-under 264 as he claimed his third major in two years to join the very elite of world golf.
He matches legends Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus and Woods, the last man to achieve the feat in 2000, in winning the US Open and PGA Championship in the same year.
“It’s mind boggling,” said the 28-year-old.
“The crowd definitely let you know what’s going on. At the beginning of the back nine I could hear the roars when Tiger started making his run and then Scotty (Adam Scott) makes his little run.”
Woods, who started the final major of the season with a bogey and double bogey, showed his fighting qualities throughout, carding his best final round in a major despite finding no fairways on the front nine.
“I didn’t drive the ball well all day,” he said. “I was hitting it left and right on the driving range, even with my sand wedge, so I knew it was going to be a struggle to piece the round together, but I did.”
Woods, who also challenged strongly in the British Open in July, is likely to be rewarded with a place in the US Ryder Cup team when captain Jim Furyk names his wildcards for the match against Europe in France next month.
Koepka heads the eight who have already gained automatic spots after the PGA Championship.
Behind the three frontrunners, Spain’s Jon Rahm and Stewart Cink finished tied for fourth on 11 under, while defending champion Justin Thomas faded to finish a shot further back with British Open winner Francesco Molinari, Thomas Pieters and halfway leader Gary Woodland.
02:15 - Source: CNN
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