Erin, Wis. – While Patrick Reed was screaming and wagging his finger at Rory McIlroy last fall at Hazeltine National, one of his teammates was proving even more dominant as the United States won the Ryder Cup.
Reed earned 3½ points in five matches, and his histrionics earned him the nickname "Captain America." Brooks Koepka — Colonel America? — used his power to earn three points in four matches as a Ryder Cup rookie.
This weekend at the U.S. Open, Reed wore his Ryder Cup slacks, but it was Koepka who celebrated another quintessential American victory, tying a tournament record with a winning score of 16 under par to earn his first major.
Koepka's father wasn't at Erin Hills, so he had to watch his son like the rest of the golf world, as Brooks turned a tight leaderboard into a Father's Day laugher. "I didn't get him a card," Koepka said. "So I hope this works."
Koepka shot a final-round 67 as the Erin Open became the seventh consecutive major to produce a first-time major winner. The 67 was the lowest final round by the winner of the Open since Tiger Woods shot the same score in 2000 at Pebble Beach.
Ten of the past 13 U.S. Opens have been won by first-time major winners — the past two by quiet, powerful athletes who work out together and triumphed by overpowering landlocked courses.
Dustin Johnson won at Oakmont last June. He and Koepka, two of the strongest men on tour, work out together regularly. "Dustin actually called me last night, and told me the same thing, just stay patient, keep doing what you're doing, you're going to win the thing," Koepka said. "Just don't get ahead of yourself."
With wind finally making Erin Hills a challenge on Sunday, Koepka missed only one green in the final round. He hit a 3-wood 379 yards off the 18th tee. He dominated the longest course in U.S. Open history, completing his career climb by winning by four strokes over Hideki Matsuyama and Brian Harman.
