Brooks Koepka built off a strong showing at the Masters to capture the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club with a two-stroke victory over Viktor Hovland and Scottie Scheffler. It was Koepka’s first major win in four years, signalling a return to form for the talented golfer who had battled knee injuries and questioned his future in the sport.
Koepka showcased his championship mentality with consecutive 6-under 66s over the weekend, followed by a solid 67 on Sunday. His triumph placed him in the elite company of Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods as the only players to win three or more PGA Championships in the stroke-play era. The win is the fifth major championship for the 33 year old from Florida.
The road back to the winner’s circle on the PGA Tour wasn’t without its obstacles for Koepka. Just last month at the Masters, he held the 54-hole lead but faltered down the stretch and ended up finishing second. Within the final round of the PGA Championship itself, Koepka faced adversity when his tee shot found the penalty area on the par-4 6th hole. However, he managed to navigate the challenges and maintain his composure, and his putting stroke down the stretch.
Viktor Hovland, who had been in contention at the previous two major championships, once again found himself with a chance to win. He matched Koepka shot for shot, staying within striking distance until disaster struck on the 16th hole. Hovland’s second shot from a fairway bunker embedded in the lip, leading to a double bogey that dashed his hopes of victory.
Scottie Scheffler, the world No. 2, made a late charge on Sunday, closing the gap between himself and the leaders. However, it proved to be too little too late as he fell short of the title.
The tournament also saw notable performances from Bryson DeChambeau, who displayed resilience despite struggles with his tee shots, and Rory McIlroy, who showed flashes of brilliance but couldn’t chase down his LIV rivals on Sunday.
As impressive as Koepka’s victory was, this year’s event will likely be remembered as the weekend of Michael Block, a club pro from Southern California. Block made a memorable appearance at the PGA Championship, impressing the crowd with a hole-in-one and finishing 15th overall for the weekend.
For his efforts, Koepka will pocket $3.15M in purse money, while Hovland and Scheffler will take home $1.54M each. Fan favourite Michael Block earned $288K over the 4 day event, and also got another bit of good news following the event:
Photo: Peetlesnumber1. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.