Brooks Koepka, who is LIV Golf’s first player to win a major championship, said: “I really think it helps LIV. But I’m more interested in myself right now, to be honest”; Koepka held off Viktor Hovland and Scottie Scheffler on the final day at Oak Hill
Last update: 22/05/23 02:09
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Watch the moment Brooks Koepka claimed a third PGA Championship with a two-stroke win at Oak Hill.
Watch the moment Brooks Koepka claimed a third PGA Championship with a two-stroke win at Oak Hill.
Brooks Koepka says his failure on the final day of the Masters played a key role in securing a fifth major title after emerging victorious with an impressive PGA Championship victory.
Koepka led by two strokes after three rounds at Augusta National earlier this year, but ultimately lost to Jon Rahm as he shot a three for 75 on Sunday.
Koepka blamed himself for ‘choking’ while speaking to the media earlier this week but, holding a one-shot advantage at the start of the final day in Rochester, the 33-year-old didn’t let his lead slip away this time around.
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Brooks Koepka was leading heading into the final round of the Masters, but he hit six bogeys on day four and finished four strokes behind winner Jon Rahm.
“I certainly wouldn’t have won, I don’t think, if that [The Masters] didn’t happen,” Koepka said. Take it definitely and keep using it for every event, every major, every time I’m in contention.
“I’ve always learned more from the four times I’ve finished second than I guess from the five times I’ve won now.
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Brooks Koepka gives his reaction to his final round 75 at the Masters as he finished second to Jon Rahm at Augusta National.
“I think failure is how you learn. You get better at it. You realize the mistakes you’ve made.
“Really, I think the big key is just to be open and honest with yourself, and if you can do that, you’ll be miles ahead of everyone else.”
Koepka’s victory was his third in the PGA Championship and his fifth overall, clearing him of Rory McIlroy (four) and tying the legendary Seve Ballesteros, among others, on five.
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Brooks Koepka on what it would mean to join Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods in winning three or more PGA Championships.
It was his first major win in four years, with injuries marring his career in the years that followed before a marked return to form in 2023.
“It’s damn good,” he said. “This one is definitely special. I think this one is probably the most meaningful of them all with all the stuff that’s happened, all the crazy stuff over the last few years. It feels good to be back and d ‘get number five.’
Brooks added on his legacy: “I care. It’s just hard to really grasp the situation while you’re still there, I think.
“I’m trying not to think about it at the moment. Probably when I’m retired and can look back with Jena and my son and think about all that, it’ll be really special, but right now I’m trying to collect as many of these things as I can.”
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Highlights from the final round of the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill which saw Brooks Koepka lift the trophy for the third time.
Koepka’s win at Oak Hill also marked the first major success for a member of the LIV Golf Tour.
“I really think it helps LIV,” Koepka said. “But I’m more interested in myself right now, to be honest with you.
“Yeah, that’s a huge thing for LIV, but at the same time I’m here competing as an individual in the PGA Championship. I’m just happy to bring this home for the third time.”
Hovland: ‘It sucks right now’ for second place
Pushing Koepka all the way into the final round was his playing partner Viktor Hovland. The Norwegian only trailed by one shot until he found the bunker en route to a double bogey on the 16th hole.
Hovland opted to hit a nine iron out of the sand, but his effort sunk into the lip of the bunker and his challenge vanished like his ball, with Koepka birdieing the same hole to clear a four clear.
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Viktor Hovland’s hopes of winning the 2023 PGA Championship were effectively ended after a double bogey on the par four 16th hole when he left his ball in the rim of the bunker.
“I felt like I was playing really solid golf,” Hovland told reporters. “Gave myself a lot of looks…but Brooks was hard to catch. He’s a great player, and now he’s got five majors. That’s a hell of a record there.
“It’s not easy going up against a guy like that. He’s not going to give you anything, and I didn’t really feel like I gave him anything until I was 16.
“I feel like I belong here. I just need to improve a bit, and hopefully it will be like that next time.
It’s Hovland’s third consecutive top 10 at a major championship and he added: “It sucks right now but it’s really cool to see things going in the right direction.
“If I keep taking care of my business and keep working on what I’m doing, I think we’ll have one soon.”
Scheffler ‘doesn’t care’ about return to No.1 ranking
Scottie Scheffler shot a five-under 65 to finish tied for second with Hovland, two shots behind Koepka on seven-under. It was a result that saw him return to world number 1.
Leapfroging Masters champion Jon Rahm in first place, however, represented no silver lining for the 2022 winner at Augusta National.
Scottie Scheffler returns to number one in the world rankings after his second tie at the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill
“It’s good, but I don’t care,” Scheffler told the media with a laugh. “I don’t play for the world rankings. I play to come here and compete.
“Right now I’m a bit sad that I couldn’t finish the tournament, but I’m proud of how I fought, I’m proud of how I played the last nine today for give me a chance. I was beaten by someone who played better this week, and I tip the hat to Brooks. That’s how it goes.