American golfer Brooks Koepka is flying high after successfully defending the PGA Championship at Bethpage Black on Sunday. Staving off a late challenge from Dustin Johnson to win the second major of 2019 by just two-strokes.
What started out as a done deal, quickly began to unravel for Koepka on the back nine. The 29-year-old saw his seven shot lead dwindle down to just one after four bogeys on the back nine. It began to look as if we were about to witness a major meltdown as Johnson crept closer to the leader, but Koepka was able to hold his nerve despite the “DJ” chanting from the crowd.
“I’m glad to have this trophy back in my hands,” Koepka told reporters afterwards. “With the ‘DJ’ chants, I was aware of what was going on. He did an unbelievable job of putting pressure on me.”
Adding, “When they started chanting for DJ on the 14th, it actually helped. It helped me focus. I think it was the best thing that could’ve happened.”
Koepka has now won four of the last eight majors he’s played in. If there was any doubt before, he is swiftly becoming a golf legend of power and consistency. The win yesterday at Bethpage was an important one for the golfer in terms of pressure and using it to your advantage.
“Today was definitely the most satisfying out of all of [the major wins] for how stressful that round was. I know for a fact that was the most excited I’ve ever been in my life, there on the 18.”
Check out the winner’s mixed bag of gear below:
Driver:
TaylorMade M5
Fairway Wood: TaylorMade M2
Irons:
Mizuno JPX 919 Tour
Driving Iron: Nike Vapor Fly Pro
Wedges:
Titleist Vokey SM7; Titleist Vokey TVD60-L SM4
Putter: Scotty Cameron T10 Select Newport 2
Ball:
Titleist Pro V1x
