Gary Woodland celebrates with the trophy after winning the US Open. Photo: AP
Source:
https://scmp.com/sport/golf/article/3014757/us-open-gary-woodland-holds-nerve-claim-first-major-hold-brooks-koepka Golf
US Open: Gary Woodland holds nerve to claim first major and hold Brooks Koepka at bay
- Woodland cards a two-under 69 to seal title
- Koepka finishes three shots short of Woodland’s 13-under score
Gary Woodland held off the charge of Brooks Koepka to claim the US Open, his first major title. Photo: USA Today
Gary Woodland held his nerve to claim his first major with a three-shot victory at the US Open on Sunday, bringing Brooks Koepka’s two-year reign to an end.
Woodland did not manage a top-10 finish in his first 27 majors before last year’s PGA Championship, where he tied for sixth, but he handled the final round with the composure of someone who had been playing for golf’s biggest prizes his entire career.
Woodland carded a two-under 69 to keep Koepka from becoming the first man in more than a century to sweep three straight US Opens.
World number one Koepka went down fighting, finishing with a three-under 68 to leave him three short of Woodland’s winning total of 13-under 271.
Justin Rose began the day one shot back of Woodland but the Englishman crumbled on the back nine with three bogeys for a three-over 74 and a tie for third at seven-under with Xander Schauffele, Chez Reavie and Spain’s Jon Rahm.