Brooks Koepka got his hands on the Wanamaker Trophy for the third time.
The 33-year-old Koepka claimed his fifth major title, closing with a three-under-par 67 to win the 105th PGA Championship by two strokes over Viktor Hovland of Norway and second-ranked Scottie Scheffler on the East Course at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, N.Y.
Koepka, who blew a two-stroke lead in the final round of the Masters last month and tied for second, joined Walter Hagen (five), Jack Nicklaus (five), Tiger Woods (four), Gene Sarazen (three) and Sam Snead (three) as the only players to capture the PGA Championship at least three times.
“It’s almost surreal to have my name on that trophy so many times like those other legendary players, especially those four,” said Koepka, who battled back from a right knee injury the last few seasons. “I’m almost speechless right now, especially to come back and win the PGA from where I was physically even a year or so ago.
“I have been playing well again lately and knew I was getting close to winning again, but to have it happen here is almost beyond belief. I love New York and the fans, and have won three of my major titles in the state of New York. As you can tell from listening to them, the fans here love me and I love them right back.
“I wish it didn’t happen, but I think that what I did in the last round of the Masters helped me out this week.”
Koepka previously captured the 2017 U.S. Open at Erin Hills in Wisconsin, the 2018 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills in New York, the 2018 PGA at Bellerive in Missouri and the 2019 PGA at Bethpage Black in New York.
Three straight birdies through the fourth hole of the final round at Oak Hill put Koepka in solid control even though Hovland and Scheffler chased him all day, and he added for birdies on the back nine to post a winning score of 9-under-par 271.
Hovland, seeking his first major title, was within one stroke of the lead when he got stuck in a bunker on the 16th hole and made a double-bogey 6 on his way to a 68, while Scheffler, the 2022 Masters champion, collected six birdies in a 65 but it wasn’t enough.
“It was pretty unfortunate what happened on No. 16, but that’s golf sometimes,” said Hovland, who tied for seventh in the Masters and tied for fourth in the Open Championship on the Old Course in St. Andrews. “That didn’t have anything to do with me not winning and I gave it everything I had.
“Brooks played great all day and deserved to win. I’m just pleased with the way I played all four days.”
First-round leader Bryson DeChambeau of Clovis, the 2020 U.S. Open, could manage only a 70 and finished six shots back in a tie for fourth with Kurt Kitayama of Chico and UNLV, who had six birdies in a 65, and Cam Davis of Australia, who made an 11-foot eagle putt on No. 14 to highlight another 65.
Third-ranked Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, a four-time major champion, had five birdies in a third straight 69 and was seven back in a tie for seventh with Sepp Straka of Austria, who made four birdies on each nine in a 65, while fourth-ranked Patrick Cantlay of Los Alamitos and UCLA chipped in for eagle on the 14th hole to highlight a 66 and was eight down in a tie for ninth with eighth-ranked Cameron Smith of Australia, the 2002 Open champion, who made seven birdies in a 65, and Justin Rose of England, the 2013 U.S. Open champion, who had three bogeys on the back nine in a 71.
Fifth-ranked Xander Schauffele of La Jolla and San Diego State, the 2021 Olympic champion, tied for 18th after a 67, 10th-ranked Jordan Spieth, a three-time major champion, shot 69 and tied for 29th, top-ranked Jon Rahm of Spain, the reigning Masters champion, tied for 50th after a 71 and seventh-ranked Max Homa birdied the last hole for a 72 and tied for 55th.
Defending champion Justin Thomas closed with a 72 and tied for 65th.
Michael Block, Head Golf Professional at Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club in Mission Viejo, was one of the stars of the tournament and actually hit the shot of the week when he made a hole-in-one with a seven iron from 151 yards on the 15th hole in the final round.
“It was a seven iron into the wind and I knew I hit it right at the pin,” said Block, who was playing alongside McIlroy. “I knew it was a good shot but I didn’t see it go in, although when I heard the crowd going crazy, I asked: “Rory, did that go in?’ And he said that it did.
“I’ve never made a hole in one in a tournament before, but this is simply another aspect of what I have already said is the greatest week of my life. I didn’t make as many putts today, but I made the last one and that’s the one that counted.”
Block, who opened with three rounds of 70, sank a seven-foot par putt on the 18th hole to cap a 71 and finish in a tie for 15th. The top 15 players and ties qualify for the 106th PGA Championship next year at Valhalla Country Club in Louisville, Ky.
For the first time, Block won’t have to go through local qualifying.For complete results, visit https://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard
