Brooks Koepka holds the Wanamaker trophy after successful the PGA Championship golf match at Oak Hill Country Club on May 21, 2023.
| Photo Credit: AP
Four-time main winner Brooks Koepka clung to a one-stroke lead halfway via Sunday’s last spherical of the PGA Championship, transferring nearer to changing into the primary participant to win a serious whereas with Saudi-backed LIV Golf.
The 33-year-old American reeled off three birdies in a row however made two bogeys additionally to stand on seven-under par as he completed the entrance 9 at Oak Hill with Norway’s Viktor Hovland, searching for his first main win, second on six-under.
Second-ranked American Scottie Scheffler, final yr’s Masters winner, was third on four-under.
Koepka was among the many stars who jumped from the PGA Tour to breakaway LIV Golf, which provided file $25 million purses for 54-hole occasions, regardless of concern over Saudi Arabia’s human rights file.
The PGA banned LIV expertise from its occasions, with a authorized struggle between them due in court docket subsequent May. In the meantime, the majors present the one outlet for competitors between gamers from the rival excursions.
In all, there have been six main winners from LIV in the sector of 156 with a mixed 15 main crowns, however none captured as a member of the upstart circuit, not even Australian Cam Smith’s British Open title final July.
Smith had, who completed on one-under 279 after a closing five-under 65, dismissed LIV gamers successful majors as information.
“I gave up on that narrative about six months ago,” Smith mentioned. “I think there’s been a few guys that have been trying to kick it along a little bit.
“We’re nonetheless on the market. We have not forgot how to play golf. We’re all nice golfers on the market, and we all know what we will do, and I feel that is what we’re attempting to do.”
There were no boos off the first tee for Koepka, who heard them Saturday before turning them to roars in shooting a 66.
Koepka healthy again
Koepka, healthy after 2021 knee surgery that hampered most of his past two seasons, made four-foot birdie putts at the second and par-3 third and birdied the par-5 fourth from just inside nine feet.
At six, Koepka’s tee shot went into a penalty area and he two-putted for bogey. At seven, he missed the green with his approach and made bogey but kept the lead when Hovland bogeyed.
Koepka led entering the final round at last month’s Masters but, in his words, “choked” away the inexperienced jacket to Spain’s top-ranked Jon Rahm.
After sharing second at Augusta National with LIV’s Phil Mickelson, Kopeka may declare a 3rd profession PGA Championship. Only Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Walter Hagen have gained extra.
Scheffler, who would overtake Rahm for world primary with a triumph, birdied seven and eight and answered a bogey at 9 with a birdie to start his again 9.
Australia’s Cam Davis, Canada’s Corey Conners and Americans Kurt Kitayama and Bryson DeChambeau shared fourth on three-under.
Austrian Sepp Straka had the clubhouse lead on two-under 278 after a closing 65.
Also on two-under had been France’s Victor Perez and four-time main winner Rory McIlroy.
The world quantity three from Northern Ireland, attempting to win his first main title since 2014, had 4 birdies and three bogeys via 12 holes.
