The third major of the year had some record-breaking performances, but few people could imagine the final result, as Gary Woodland won his first title by three strokes over Brooks Koepka. He began the day with a one-stroke lead over Justin Rose and four strokes clear of Koepka, but it was Koepka who provided the early challenge. Brooks’s birdies on1, 3, 4 and 5 brought him into striking distance, but Gary answered strongly with a couple of birdies of his own on the 2nd and 3rd. A bogey on 8 by Koepka and a bogey on 9 by Woodland would send them into the back 9 with Gary holding the three-shot lead. The lead would be cut to one when Woodland bogeyed 12, but his bounce-back birdie on 14 increased the lead to two. Brooks would only manage pars, and Gary Woodland’s final birdie on 18 capped off a 2-under 69 and his 4th career PGA Tour title.

Tiger Woods, who was looking for his second major of the season and 16th overall, couldn’t quite put everything together; however, his tie for 21st was his best finish in a U.S. Open since he match that performance in 2012.

 

Next week, the PGA Tour heads to Connecticut for the Travelers Championship.