Page 18 - aruba-today-20170620

A18 SPORTS
Tuesday 20 June 2017
Koepka’s trip around the world leads to major title at home

By DOUG FERGUSON Brandt Snedeker said, sional in 2011.
AP Golf Writer “when Brooks figures out No big deal.
ERIN, Wis. (AP) — Before how good he is, he’s going It takes a lot to get Koepka
their names shared space to be a world beater.” excited, and while a U.S.
on the silver U.S. Open tro- He beat everyone at Erin Open certainly does the
phy, Brooks Koepka and Hills, and in the end, it trick, it was hard to tell.
Jordan Spieth were to- wasn’t even close. When he started out Sun-
gether in a less attractive One shot behind going into day, one shot out of the
location. the final round, Koepka lead and among 12 play-
Both failed by three shots didn’t miss a green until the ers within five shots, he did
to advance out of the par-3 13th — the only one little more than walk to the
second stage of qualify- he missed in the final round cup after three birdies on
ing school in Texas, leaving — and he saved par with the front nine. When he
them with no status on any an 8-foot putt that might was tied for the lead with
tour. have been more meaning- six holes to play, he gave
That was five years ago, ful than the three straight a light fist pump, clenched
and each went his own birdie putts that followed. his hand a little tighter af-
way. Brooks Koepka poses with the winning trophy after the U.S. Open “I needed to make that if I ter each of those four big
Spieth, a U.S. Junior Ama- golf tournament Sunday, June 18, 2017, at Erin Hills in Erin, Wis. was going to win this tour- putts.
teur champion who won Associated Press nament,” he said. “Did you see that fist pump
an NCAA title with Texas, tion to the European Tour. Erin Hills all the more spe- Brian Harman in the final there on 18,” Koepka said
received sponsor exemp- And he was ready to come cial. group behind him made with a proud smile.
tions to PGA Tour and home. Koepka can’t count the back-to-back bogeys and Yes, both of them, neither
Web.com Tour events and He called Blake Smith, miles he traveled after couldn’t catch up. Hideki to be mistaken with any-
rode a runner-up finish in his manager at Hambric leaving Florida State, but Matsuyama shot 66 but thing Tiger Woods has done
the Puerto Rico Open to a Sports, and told him, “I he wouldn’t trade the path started too far back. Ko- over the years.
meteoric year that ended don’t even want to play.” that led him to a major epka closed with a 67 for a Despite such a chill person-
with him on the Presidents “I don’t want to say home- championship at age 27. four-shot victory, the lowest ality, there was some irrita-
Cup team at age 20. sick. I was just tired of golf. “I think it helped me grow final round by a U.S. Open tion about not winning as
Koepka began filling his Tired of traveling,” Koep- up a little bit and really champion since Tiger much as he felt he should.
passport. ka said. “I just wanted to figure out that, ‘Hey, play Woods at Pebble Beach in Koepka won the Turkish Air-
One three-week stretch on be home, even though I golf, get it done and then 2000 when he won by 15. lines Open in 2014 over Ian
the Challenge Tour took was about to win the third you can really take this Only after he signed his Poulter and Henrik Sten-
him from India to South Af- one. For some reason, I just somewhere.’ And I built a card did Koepka realize son. Three months later, he
rica to Kenya. He played in wanted to get out and go lot of confidence off that,” a birdie on the par-5 18th powered his way to victory
Kazakhstan and Madeira home.”He stayed. He won. Koepka said. would have broken an- in the Phoenix Open.
Island, Finland and Bel- And then he flew to Lon- Those who saw him other U.S. Open record at And that’s been it in the
gium. He won in Italy and don early the next morning couldn’t ignore the sheer Erin Hills. He made par and big leagues, though he
Spain, and he was on the and qualified for the British athleticism, raw power and finished at 16-under 272, has done well enough to
verge of a third victory, Open. quiet confidence. matching the record to par make the Ryder Cup team
this one in Scotland, that All of which made his U.S. “I kept telling people last by Rory McIlroy, who shot last year (going 3-1-0 in his
would earn him gradua- Open victory Sunday at year after the Ryder Cup,” 16-under 268 at Congres- matches).q
Canada’s Brooke Henderson wins Meijer LPGA Classic

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. Henderson closed with a “I missed a short one on 10, putter that well today. It is
(AP) — Brooke Henderson 66 on the Blythefield layout which I would have liked what it is. I hit two great last
made it a special Father’s that was reduced to a par to have, but then I made putts. I almost made the
Day. of 69 — the fifth hole was a great birdie on No. 11,” two long ones.”
With father and coach played as a par 3 instead Henderson said. “I had zero Wie shared the lead early
Dave Henderson and other of a par 5 — the final two bogeys on a day like today in the round and wound
family members watching, rounds because of flood- where it was super windy. up with five birdies and no
the 19-year-old Canadian ing.Wie finished with a 65, And any day on Sunday, bogeys.
won the Meijer LPGA Clas- and Thompson had a 69. there’s that little bit of extra “It was tough out there,”
sic on Sunday for her fourth Henderson finished at pressure and you’re in con- Wie said. “The wind just
LPGA Tour title, holding 17-under 263 and earned tention so you want to play started blowing and it was
off Michelle Wie and Lexi $300,000. She led after really well so you might just interesting. Some spots
Thompson by two strokes in Brooke Henderson, of Cana- each of the first two rounds, push a few more shots than are really wet, some spots
cool, windy conditions. da, holds the trophy after win- shooting 63-67 at a par of you would like.” are dry, but overall I felt like
“It was just like the perfect ning the Meijer LPGA Classic 71, and had a 67 on Sat- Thompson was 1 over on I played good this week
day,” she said. “My dad golf tournament at Blythefield urday to drop a stroke be- the first five holes with two and I’m happy about it.”
Country Club. Sunday, June
is my coach, he’s a great 18, 2017, in Grand Rapids, hind Thompson. bogeys.Thompson hit one Su Oh (64), Madelene Sag-
father to both my sister Mich. Henderson won twice last of the longest drives of the strom (65) and Moriya Juta-
(caddie Brittany) and I, Associated Press year, taking the KPMG day on No. 9, put her ap- nugarn (66) tied for fourth
and he’s one of our best you need to take these Women’s PGA Champion- proach shot within 20 feet at 14 under.Second-ranked
friends. He’s with us all the lines off the tee.’ ship for her first major, and and made the birdie putt Lydia Ko had a 68 to tie
time, and he gave me a “I did that and I had an successfully defending her to tie for the lead. But she for 10th at 12-under. Top-
lot of lines early in the week advantage over the rest title in the Cambia Portland bogeyed No. 10 to fall out ranked Ariya Jutanugarn,
that I didn’t know, that I of the field all four days. So Classic. of the lead. coming off a playoff vic-
wouldn’t normally take this win, I say it’s for him, but Henderson had three bird- “I hit my driver great the tory last week in Canada
without him there. But he it really is for him because I ies in a bogey-free round. whole day, so that was def- over Thompson and In Gee
said, ‘If you want to win probably wouldn’t have She birdied Nos. 7 and 8, initely a positive,” Thomp- Chun, had a 69 to for 22nd
and you want to contend, done it without him.” while Thompson faltered. son said. “I didn’t roll the at 9 under.q