Tiger Woods. Phil Mickelson.
In case you were wondering why an article on the 2023 PGA Championship began with those two names, it’s this: Since the turn of the century, those two are the only male professional golfers to nab five or more majors. Woods, of course, has a whopping 13 to his credit (he won two in the 1990s), while Mickelson went from consistent bridesmaid to six-time major winner.
On Sunday at Oak Hill Country Club, Brooks Koepka has a golden opportunity to become the third since 2000 to reach five majors. Holding a one-shot lead at six-under, with Viktor Hovland and Corey Conners just one shot behind, the two-time PGA champion is the premier storyline going into the final round.
Not only does Koepka already have four majors in his back pocket, but the time since he won his last — the 2019 PGA Championship — makes the chase for a fifth all the more interesting.
There have been the close calls, particularly a runner-up finish at the 2019 U.S. Open, a joint second at the 2021 PGA Championship, a joint fourth at the 2021 U.S. Open and a joint second at last month’s Masters. Those performances served as constant reminders of Koepka’s remarkable prowess in the sport’s biggest events.
However, for a man who notched four majors in less than two years, they also served as longing reminders of what once was. Koepka, with his steely demeanor, workmanlike approach and an innate ability to hole the clutch putts, was once golf’s most feared closer. But now, there is scar tissue, with the deepest wound coming just a few weeks ago. Koepka held a four-shot lead heading into the marathon Sunday at Augusta National in April, but across the final 30 holes, he converted just four birdies and ended four shots short of Jon Rahm.
In 2019, Koepka may very well have cruised to victory, but the game has added more stars since. With the pressure that comes with being on the mountaintop, every successive triumph becomes fractionally more difficult. Plus, there are the physical and mental ailments that have afflicted the Florida State alumnus. From 2019 until 2021, Koepka dealt with hip issues and severe knee problems, undergoing multiple surgeries for the latter.
During the second episode of the debut season of “Full Swing” (taped last season), the Netflix series on men’s professional golf, Koepka lamented the effects of his injuries and subsequent loss of confidence. He even told his inner circle, “I’m going to be honest with you, I can’t compete with these guys week in and week out,” a stunning admission from one of the (at worst) four best players of the last decade — Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth being the other three.
Well, in the last two majors, Koepka has proven the opposite. He can indeed duke it out with “these guys” and is still a force to look out for on the toughest setups, with the most pressure, against the strongest fields.
Duking it out is one thing. Koepka told Jason Sobel of Action Network after his third-round 66 that majors are “how your legacy is defined,” and that one simply has to “try to win as many as you can.”
Well, here is your chance, Brooks. A chance to add to your legacy and join the two best players of the 21st century. A chance to prove that the unmistakable greatness is still bottled up inside.
A chance at history.
