Xander Schauffele exploded out of the gate to record the lowest round in US PGA Championship history (62) hitting the top of the leaderboard in the PGA Championship at Valhalla. Current Olympic champion Schauffele began from the 10th tee firing five birdies in his first nine holes and then added four on his back nine in a bogey-free display.
The gods were smiling on Justin Thomas in Hawaii on Sunday. Two clear, with three to go it looked like he had the Tournament of Champions in the bag. However, two sloppy bogies in his last three holes saw him have to win a play-off against Patrick Reed and defending champion Xander Schauffele.
It’s Manic Monday, so here is a very quick round up of all the results and stories from the weekend on the, PGA Tour, European Tour, LPGA and Women’s European Tour.
The Sanderson Farms Championship from the Country Club of Jackson delivered another first-time winner when Sebastian Munoz saw off 2019 Rookie of the Year, Sungjae Im, on the first hole of a playoff. It was the Columbian’s first tour victory and follows the win by Joaquin Niemann of Chile at last week’s win at the A Military Tribute at the Greenbrier.
I just placed a bet on the US Open. I got odds of just shy of 6/1 on one Mr Brooks Koepka. My heart is with Justin Rose and, if his amazing short game continues, he may well win but my head says that Koepka will come through to make history.
How do you come back from blowing a seven shot lead in a major? Well, fortunately for Brooks Koepka it is a question that he will not have to answer. Staring down the barrel of the gun and the biggest collapse in golf major history, Koepka dug deep, held his nerve and took the title.
Not since the heyday of Tiger Woods have we seen anything like this. Brooks Koepka is tearing apart one of the toughest courses on the major circuit and breaking records as he does so. The rest of the field are looking on in bewilderment and accepting that they are now playing for second.
The crowds were out on mass to watch Tiger slay the beast, that is Bethpage Black, but it was his playing partner and holder Brooks Koepka who showed how it was done. Koepka’s course record, bogey free, seven under 63 was as unexpected as it was impressive. This is Bethpage Black after all where par is considered a good score.
Excellent interview with Tiger Woods speaking to GOLFTV’s Lead Tour Correspondent, Henni Zuel about the upcoming 2019 PGA Championship at Bethpage Black. He discusses the course, his preparations and his playing partners for the first two days - Brooksie and Franny!
Everyone has heard about the sign as you approach the Bethpage Black course. The recommendation is that only the ‘Highly Skilled Golfer’ plays this monster of a public course.
After the debacle of last year when no broadcaster wanted the 4th major of the 2018 season and you had to find some obscure Facebook page set up by Eleven Sport to watch it, Sky will be showing this year’s event from Bethpage Black.
World number 417, Max Homa, shot a final round 66 to earn the biggest pay-day of his life with a three-shot victory at the Wells Fargo Championship from Quail Hollow. In second place was Homa’s compatriot Joel Dahmen, tipped by GolfPunk , at 12 under. Justin Rose had a very encouraging final round 68 to finish 3rd on eleven under.
