The crowds at Bellerive were given one hell of a show as
Tiger Woods proved he is truly back in the game. Producing a stunning final round performance at the PGA Championship to finish just two-shots behind the winner,
Brooks Koepka.
A year ago Woods wasn’t sure he would ever play professional golf again, let alone contend at a major event, after a spinal fusion in 2017 left him without a swing. Now the 42-year-old is riding high after posting his lowest-ever final round major score (64) and his lowest 72-hole total of 266. All signs now point to Woods receiving a coveted wild card invite to the Ryder Cup next month.
“This has been a process on building,” Woods told reporters yesterday. “I didn’t know when I was going to start this year and how many tournaments I was going to play, how well I was going to play. I didn’t know what swing I was going to use, either. I’m in uncharted territory. Because no one’s ever had a fused spine hitting it like I’m hitting it.”
Adding, “So I had to kind of figure this out on my own, and it’s been really hard, it’s a lot harder than people think. And I’m just very pleased at what I’ve done so far, and now to be part of the Ryder Cup conversation, going from where I’ve come from to now in the last year, it’s been pretty cool.”
Koepka, might have picked up his third major title yesterday but even he was aware of the Woods effect happening around him.
“We knew what was going on,” Koepka told reporters on Sunday. “It’s pretty obvious when Tiger makes a birdie. Everybody on the golf course cheers for him.”
But the cheers weren’t enough to distract the 28-year-old from the task at hand. And his focus and determination to win didn’t go unnoticed.
“Calm. Collected. Confident,” posted Jack Nicklaus on Twitter. “This is the description of Brooks Koepka. He didn’t seem aware of anywhere else on the golf course. That’s what you need to do in a major.”
Koepka’s win makes it his second major victory of 2018, after he successfully defended his U.S. Open title in June. Pretty remarkable considering the former Nike golfer missed The Masters in April because of injury.
“When I look at what I’ve done in the past two months, it’s incredible,” said the American. “Looking where I was, sitting on my couch watching the Masters, and to think I would do this, I would have laughed at you and told you there was no way, no chance, and to do it is really incredible.”
But his own recovery isn’t the only thing that has Koepka excited. Sunday’s winner confessed to reporters,
“I’m excited for the next few years. I’m a fan of golf. I mean, Tiger’s come back. You look at what Dustin [Johnson] is doing, Justin [Thomas], Rory [McIlroy], [Jordan] Spieth. It’s a great time to be a golf fan. I can’t wait to duel it out with them over the next couple of years or next however long.”
We can’t wait either!!!
Check out Koepka’s winning bag below and also take a peek at Tiger’s impressive gear.
Brook Koepka’s PGA Championship Bag
Driver:
TaylorMade M3
Fairway Woods: TaylorMade M2 Tour HL
Irons: Nike Vapor Fly Pro;
Mizuno JPX900
Wedges:
Titleist Vokey SM7
Putter: Titleist Scotty Cameron T10 Select Newport 2
Ball:
Titleist Pro V1x
Shoes and Apparel:
Nike Golf
Tiger Woods’ PGA Championship Bag
Driver:
TaylorMade M3
Fairway Woods:
TaylorMade M3
Irons: TaylorMade TP UDI; TaylorMade TW.Phase 1
Wedges: TaylorMade Milled Grind Raw
Putter:
TaylorMade TP Collection Ardmore 2
Ball:
Bridgestone Tour B XS
