Is Brooks Koepka America's best young golfer?

There's a reason why Brooks Koepka is the best young American golfer you've never heard of.

It has less to do with his game than his passport. The Florida native has collected four wins, but also 48 pages of government stamps and almost as many adventures in the last 10 months while playing in 11 different countries. His 2013 season-opening itinerary included India, South Africa and Kenya. And don't ask about the horsemeat dinner in Kazakhstan. Or cobbling together connecting flights between Tenerife and Prague.

"The road's not for everyone," Koepka laughed. "You have to get used to being away, and being alone. It can be tough. Pretty much all you have is golf. But getting to see the world at 23, that's pretty cool."

The extended road trip became part of a master plan Koepka hatched after missing the cut at last year's US Open, then turning pro and failing to get through qualifying school for the PGA Tour. Like his friend and sometimes roommate Peter Uihlein, he pounced on the opportunity for four guaranteed starts on the Challenge Tour, the European Tour's minor-league circuit. He and Uihlein have a running bet - whoever wins a tournament has to buy a jet ski for the house they share in Florida.

Koepka earned his European Tour card after winning three Challenge events this year, and the mad dash that was necessary for Koepka to make it into the Open pretty much encapsulates his brief pro career.

After capturing the Scottish Hydro Challenge near Inverness in late June, Koepka decided to try qualifying in London. The original plan was to drive all the way, but the car blew a tyre late at night near Edinburgh. Koepka caught a few hours sleep in a hotel, then a 6.30am flight to Heathrow Airport, arriving at Sunningdale Golf Club with just enough time to stretch. Even so, he shot 69-65 to book his place in the field here.