MX23RW : Tuesday, December 10 21:39:51| >> :600:49155345:49155345:

Brooks Koepka wins US PGA Championship as Michael Block hits hole-in-one

Koepka wins US PGA Championship as Block hits hole-in-one
© Reuters
Brooks Koepka wins the 2023 US PGA Championship at Oak Hill by two shots on a day when PGA professional Michael Block stole the show with a hole-in-one.

Brooks Koepka has claimed his fifth major title by winning the 2023 US PGA Championship at Oak Hill by two shots.

Having struggled for form and with injuries, Koepka made the controversial decision to move to LIV Golf last year, the general consensus being that the American may not rediscover his previous ruthlessness.

However, after squandering an opportunity to win the Masters last month, Koepka made no such mistake on Sunday in New York, countering four bogeys with seven birdies to see off the challenge of Viktor Hovland.

Koepka led throughout the final day, a result of birdies on two, three and four, and it enabled him to make mistakes in his search for a third US PGA crown.

The defining moment came on the 16th hole, Hovland hitting a shot into the lip of the bunker which led to a double-bogey, enabling Koepka to move four shots ahead with two to play.

To Hovland's credit, a birdie on the last helped halved that deficit, leading to a share of second with Scottie Scheffler, but Koepka played a perfect final hole to arguably seal the greatest moment of his career.

While another place of history awaits Koepka, the day belonged to PGA professional Michael Block, who hit a slam-dunk hole-in-one on the 15th hole.

The 46-year-old, who has only ever played 24 PGA Tour events and missed the cut in six majors, achieved the feat in the knowledge that he required a top-15 finish to qualify for next year's tournament.

Block, who played alongside Rory McIlroy, then produced a sensational up-and-down on the last to earn a share of 15th, the American later revealing that he did not look at a leaderboard all day and had no idea of the consequences of his final eight-foot putt.

The trio of Cameron Davis, Kurt Kitayama and Bryson Dechambeau finished in a tie for fourth, while McIlroy and Sepp Straka were seventh and seven shots adrift of Koepka.

Cameron Smith, Patrick Cantlay and Justin Rose earned a ninth-placed finish, but world number one Jon Rahm could only finish in 50th position.

ID:514404:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect4082:
Written by
Darren Plant
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Scottie Scheffler during second round of US PGA Championship on May 19, 2023.
Read Next:
Scheffler in three-way lead at US PGA Championship
>