Brooks Koepka wins the 2023 US PGA Championship at Oak Hill over Scottie Scheffler and Viktor Hovland.
A resurrected Brooks Koepka won his third US PGA Championship at Oak Hill in New York, defeating Scottie Scheffler and Viktor Hovland.
Koepka, 33, fired a three-under 67 to finish on nine under par, two strokes ahead of Scheffler and Hovland.
Scheffler fired a 65 to return to the top of the global rankings, while Hovland shot a two-under 68 despite a double bogey on the 16th.
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland finished joint seventh on two under par with a 69.
A magnificent moment occurred when south California club professional Michael Block lighted the East Course once more with a hole-in-one at the 151-yard par-three 15th.
The 46-year-old was one of 20 club pros at the competition, but he was the only one to make the cut, and his carefree approach has pleased spectators all week.
And they exploded once more to celebrate the ace, despite the fact that Block was unaware of his accomplishment until he questioned his playing partner McIlroy, “Rory, did it go in?” before the two shared a heartfelt embrace.
Block’s ace was the first at this event since 2020, and it helped him finish joint 15th, earning him a spot in next year’s tournament at Valhalla.
As it happened, Koepka won his third US PGA title and sixth major.
Even he couldn’t take his attention away from his fellow American Koepka, who had a four-shot lead at the Masters in April before finishing second to Jon Rahm.
It marks the third time in five years that Koepka has won a major championship in the state of New York.
“This is incredible,” remarked Koepka. “I consider where we were two years ago. I’m just so delighted right now; this is the nicest thing ever.
“I don’t know how many guys have won five times, but to be with those groups of names is absolutely incredible, and I’ll be honest, I’m not even sure I dreamed of it as a kid.”
As a quintuple major winner, he joins the ranks of Seve Ballesteros, Peter Thomson, Byron Nelson, John Henry Taylor, and James Braid.
It is even the more amazing given that it comes just two years after Koepka had significant knee surgery and switched to the Saudi Arabian-backed LIV Golf setup.
Koepka receives the Wanamaker Trophy and a check for $3.15 million [£2.53 million]. He is also only the sixth player in history to win the Championship three times or more, joining Walter Hagen and Jack Nicklaus (five), Tiger Woods (four), Gene Sarazen, and Sam Snead (three).