BETHPAGE, United States, May 20 – Brooks Koepka held off a late charge from Dustin Johnson to capture his second consecutive PGA Championship on Sunday, completing a wire-to-wire victory for his fourth major title in nerve-wracking fashion.

A near-collapse saw Koepka’s record seven-stroke lead reduced to a single shot, but he withstood making four bogeys in a row on the back nine and another at 17 for an unexpectedly narrow triumph.

“This is probably the most satisfied I’ve been with all the majors,” said Koepka. “This one’s definitely at the top of the list of how emotionally and how mentally spent I am.”

Koepka fired a four-over par 74 final round at windy Bethpage Black to finish 72 holes on eight-under 272 and defeat Johnson by two strokes, replacing him as world number one as a result.

“I’m just glad we don’t have any more holes to play,” Koepka said. “That was a stressful round of golf.”

Bogeys by Johnson at 16 and 17 made the difference but Koepka made bogey at the par-3 17th, then escaped sand and weeds off the 18th tee by finding the fairway and green then sinking a six-foot putt for the victory.

“DJ played a hell of a round to come back and to grind it out,” Koepka said. “He did a great job putting pressure on me, making me play some solid golf down the stretch.”

The usually poker-faced Koepka admitted the moment got to him on the final hole, where he fired a fist pump after his winning putt.

“That was the most excited I’ve ever been in my life there on 18,” Koepka said.

Koepka, who seeks his third US Open win in a row next month at Pebble Beach, became the first man to own back-to-back titles at two majors simultaneously by capturing the Wanamaker Trophy and the Sh200mn ($1.98 million) top prize.

“This is unbelievable,” Koepka said. “I don’t know if I even dreamed this. It’s amazing.”

The 29-year-old American became the PGA’s fifth wire-to-wire winner after Hal Sutton in 1983, Ray Floyd in 1982, Jack Nicklaus in 1971 and Bobby Nichols in 1964.

Koepka joined Tiger Woods as the only back-to-back stroke-play winners of the PGA, Woods having done it in 2006-07 as well as 1999-2000.

– DJ’s Runner-up Slam –

Koepka seized a tournament-record lead of seven strokes after 54 holes on 12-under par 198.

No man has led a major by so much so late and lost. But Koepka came close.

Johnson, who shot 69, shrank the margin to four shots at the turn and just one with four holes to play, only for Koepka to outlast his US compatriot.

Johnson, seeking his second major title after the 2016 US Open, was hoping to match the best final-round win comeback in PGA history, John Mahaffey’s seven-shot rally in 1978.

Instead, he completed a career “runner-up” Grand Slam, having placed second at the 2011 British Open, 2015 US Open and last month’s Masters.

“I’m pleased with the way I played. I gave myself a chance,” Johnson said.

“The golf course played extremely difficult. The wind was really blowing. I played really well.”

– Shock back-nine drama –

Koepka made the turn on 12-under, answering an opening bogey with a birdie at the par-5 fourth, while Johnson made birdies at the fourth, sixth and nine holes to reach 8-under, shrinking Koepka’s lead to its lowest since Friday afternoon.

Koepka hit a gap wedge to two feet at the 10th hole and tapped in for birdie while Johnson took a bogey at 11 to stretch Koepka’s margin back to six strokes.

Then came Koepka’s four consecutive bogeys while Johnson birdied the 15th for the fourth day in a row, trimming the margin to a single shot as an electric atmosphere began to build among a vocal New York crowd.

“How could you not know with the DJ chants,” Koepka said. “I heard everything.”

Johnson missed an eight-foot par putt at 16, giving Koepka a two-shot edge, and Johnson went over the green at the par-3 17th on the way to another bogey, boosting Koepka’s margin back to three shots.

“I knew I needed to do something on the last three holes,” Johnson said.

Koepka ended his bogey run by parring 15 and 16, the latter on a tense three-foot putt, but missed a four-foot par putt at the par-3 17th while Johnson closed with a par, setting up the 18th-hole drama.

“The putt on 16 gave me a little bit more confidence coming down the stretch,” he said. “I know I missed one on 17, but I think 16 helped me make 18.”

Koepka became the first player to win his first four majors in less than two years, joined by Woods, Nicklaus and Hogan for winning four in eight starts.

%thecontent%%avatar%

%author%

%authornetworks%

%authordescription%

%authornetworks%

Comments

%sidebar%","opedarticle":"","sidead1":"ff","sidead2":"dd","sidead3":"","homestory":"

%title%

%game%%date%Read More--","taxonomyitem":"

%title%

%game%%date%Read More------","fixtureitem":"%name1%%score1%VS%score2%%name2%%time%","home":"rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn 1rn 2rn 3rn 4rn 5rn rn rn rn

First Lady Kenyatta handed award by WHO

rn rn Athleticsrn rn rn Sunday, 19th May 2019rn rn rn rn Read Articlern rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrnrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

More Headlines

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Koepka avoids collapse to win PGA for fourth major titlern

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 2 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Nadal can’t wait to return to new-look Roland Garrosrn

rn rn Gamern rn rn rn 2 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Upset as Alonso fails to qualify for Indy 500rn

rn rn Motorsrn rn rn rn 3 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Mbappe wants responsibility, ‘maybe PSG, maybe elsewhere’rn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 2 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Ex-NBA star Odom used ‘fake penis’ to cheat drug testersrn

rn rn Basketballrn rn rn rn 11 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Nadal beats Djokovic to win ninth Rome titlern

rn rn Gamern rn rn rn 14 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrn rn rn

Most Popular

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Isuza in as Migne names AFCON squadrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Why I left Jesse Were, Cheche out u2013 Mignern rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn EPL set to splash the cash as transfer window opensrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Athleticsrn rn rn rn rn Nyairera fears new IAAF rules will end careerrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Rugbyrn rn rn rn rn Four changes for Shujaa in London, Paris 7srn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Money-minting lessons from Camp Nou for Gor, AFCrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Chapa Dimba All-Stars pick first win in Spainrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Basketballrn rn rn rn rn Ex-NBA star Odom used 'fake penis' to cheat drug testersrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Will AFC give Gor guard of honor at Kasarani?rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

All Sports

rn trn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Koepka avoids collapse to win PGA for fourth major title

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Monday, 20th May 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Nadal can’t wait to return to new-look Roland Garros

rn rn rn Gamern rn Monday, 20th May 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Upset as Alonso fails to qualify for Indy 500

rn rn rn Motorsrn rn Monday, 20th May 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Mbappe wants responsibility, ‘maybe PSG, maybe elsewhere’

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Monday, 20th May 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Nadal beats Djokovic to win ninth Rome title

rn rn rn Gamern rn Sunday, 19th May 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Poll Question

rn rn ntnttnttntt

Will Barcelona win the 2018/19 UEFA Champions League?

ntt
• YES
ntt
• NO
ntt

View Results

ntnn Loading ...n rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Bale bows out on bench as Madrid blow season finale

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Sunday, 19th May 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

‘Injured’ Maradona unable to attend Cannes film festival

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Sunday, 19th May 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Green triple-double fuels Warriors’ comeback win

rn rn rn Basketballrn rn Sunday, 19th May 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Wilder retains WBC title with brutal first round KO

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Sunday, 19th May 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Pep relentless as City’s financial muscle pounds rivals

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Sunday, 19th May 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Load More Storiesrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Sponsored

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Featured

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Koepka avoids collapse to win PGA for fourth major titlern rn rn Viewrn rn Monday, 20th May 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Nadal can’t wait to return to new-look Roland Garrosrn rn rn Viewrn rn Monday, 20th May 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Upset as Alonso fails to qualify for Indy 500rn rn rn Viewrn rn Monday, 20th May 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Mbappe wants responsibility, ‘maybe PSG, maybe elsewhere’rn rn rn Viewrn rn Monday, 20th May 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Ex-NBA star Odom used ‘fake penis’ to cheat drug testersrn rn rn Viewrn rn Sunday, 19th May 2019rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnttt","sidebar":"rn rn rntrn rn t

Most Popular

rn rn t rn t

rn tIsuza in as Migne names AFCON squadrn

rn Footballrn rn Tuesday, 14th May 2019rn rn rn t

rn tWhy I left Jesse Were, Cheche out u2013 Mignern

rn Footballrn rn Tuesday, 14th May 2019rn rn rn t

rn tEPL set to splash the cash as transfer window opensrn

rn Footballrn rn Thursday, 16th May 2019rn rn rn t

rn tNyairera fears new IAAF rules will end careerrn

rn Athleticsrn rn Thursday, 16th May 2019rn rn rn t

rn tFour changes for Shujaa in London, Paris 7srn

rn Rugbyrn rn Thursday, 16th May 2019rn rn rn t

rn tMoney-minting lessons from Camp Nou for Gor, AFCrn

rn Footballrn rn Saturday, 18th May 2019rn rn rn t

rn tChapa Dimba All-Stars pick first win in Spainrn

rn Footballrn rn Tuesday, 14th May 2019rn rn rn t

rn tEx-NBA star Odom used 'fake penis' to cheat drug testersrn

rn Basketballrn rn Sunday, 19th May 2019rn rn rn t

rn tWill AFC give Gor guard of honor at Kasarani?rn

rn Footballrn rn Monday, 13th May 2019rn rn rn rn rn trn rn rnrn rn rn rn t

Featured

rn rn trn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Koepka avoids collapse to win PGA for fourth major titlern rn rn Viewrn rn Monday, 20th May 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Nadal can’t wait to return to new-look Roland Garrosrn rn rn Viewrn rn Monday, 20th May 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Upset as Alonso fails to qualify for Indy 500rn rn rn Viewrn rn Monday, 20th May 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Mbappe wants responsibility, ‘maybe PSG, maybe elsewhere’rn rn rn Viewrn rn Monday, 20th May 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Ex-NBA star Odom used ‘fake penis’ to cheat drug testersrn rn rn Viewrn rn Sunday, 19th May 2019rn rn rn rn rn rn rn trn rn rn rn","articleerror":"

Oops...Something broke on our end

"},"messages":{"accessdenied":"Access to the account has been denied ","httperror":"Oops, something went wrong...please try again","contactgoogle":"Contacting Google","firsttime":"Seems this is your first time with this signin system. Please wait as we get your name","signinsuccess":"Cool. You're now signed in. This signin will close automatically now","pendingrequest":"Still communicating with the server","signedout":"Seems you were signed out. Try submitting again after you've been signed in","trackingerror":"Couldn't track Analytics","xhrnotconfigured":"To webmaster: Please confirm the xhr/ajax receptor is configured on the server","loadmore":"Load more stories"}}; /* ]]> */