Koepka comes up just short in quest for three-peat

June 16, 2019

By Ben Everill, PGATOUR.COM

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. – Through the early part of the final round at the U.S. Open, it appeared Willie Anderson was going to have company in the record books after all.

Brooks Koepka was tearing apart Pebble Beach, with four birdies in his opening five holes. His par save on the other of those five was also sublime. As his name continued to climb closer to overnight leader Gary Woodland on the leaderboard, there was a sense of déjà vu.

Brooks Koepka became the first player in U.S. Open history to post four rounds in the 60s and not win the tournament. Harry How/Getty Images

The 29-year-old was looking to win three straight U.S. Open titles, not done since Anderson did so in 1903, 1904 and 1905. He’d already been a runner-up at the Masters in April and won the PGA Championship in May. Another major win would have been a fifth victory in nine major starts.