Presented by COMMERCIAL TIRE.
This Day In Sports…May 19, 2019:
The PGA Championship moves to May for the first time, but Brooks Koepka is unfazed—until the final round. Koepka fought off four consecutive bogeys on the back nine and hung on for a two-stroke victory over Dustin Johnson. Koepka’s scores climbed steadily over the four days on the famed Bethpage Black layout in Farmingdale, NY. He began with a seven-under 63, tying the record for the lowest first-round score in PGA Championship history. Koepka carded a 67 in the second round and an even-par 70 in the third. Then came Sunday.
Koepka still held a seven-stroke lead going into the final round and was still in a comfortable spot at the turn. But he nearly gave it away from there, posting five bogeys over the final eight holes as Johnson was making a charge. Johnson actually pulled to within one shot of Koepka with three holes left to play, but he bogeyed the 16th and 17th himself. Koepka’s four-over 74 stood up.
While regaining his spot atop the world golf rankings, Koepka became the first golfer in history to hold back-to-back titles in two majors at the same time (he had won consecutive U.S. Opens to go with his two straight PGA Championship titles). Koepka also joined an exclusive club of only four players who have captured four majors in an eight-tournament span. The others: Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. Koepka added a fifth career major title when he captured his third PGA Championship in 2023, becoming the first LIV golfer to win a major.
Ah, the LIV Tour. Koepka remains a controversial figure as one of the PGA Tour stars who defected to the Saudi-based LIV in 2022 in a deal worth a reported $100 million. It was a major coup at the time. But he is said to have put out feelers about returning to the PGA Tour—in fact, Fred Couples said Koepka discussed it with him in March. The 34-year-old star later insisted that he’ll fulfill his LIV contract, which goes through the 2026 season. Then? “We’ll see,” Koepka said.
This spring, Koepka has been bemoaning the LIV’s Tour’s lack of progress. TV ratings for the circuit have been abysmal, and it is not gaining traction. Koepka missed the cut in this year’s PGA Championship last Friday at Quail Hollow, and he heard about it from a fan in the gallery. “That’s what guaranteed money does to you, Brooks!” the fan bellowed. “You want to come down here and say it?” Koepka responded.
(Tom Scott hosts the Scott Slant segment during the football season on KTVB’s Sunday Sports Extra. He also anchors four sports segments each weekday on 95.3 FM KTIK and one on News/Talk KBOI. His Scott Slant column runs every Wednesday.)
VISIT OUR SCOTT SLANT SPONSOR SITES:
Bacon Boise
Zamzows
BBSI Boise
Commercial Tire
Harmon Travel
Corso Italian Steak
Pool Scouts
