In a performance that confirmed his place among golf’s modern greats, Brooks Koepka clinched his third PGA Championship title and fifth major overall on Sunday at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, New York. With this latest triumph, Koepka becomes just the 20th player in history to win five or more majors and firmly reasserts himself as one of the dominant forces in professional golf.
Koepka, 33, closed with a final-round 67, finishing at 9-under-par 271, two strokes clear of Viktor Hovland and Scottie Scheffler. His win marks a significant milestone—not just for his personal legacy—but also as a symbolic moment in the broader evolution of men\’s professional golf.
“I’m just so proud of the grind,” Koepka said afterward, his voice filled with emotion. “This one is definitely special. After everything I’ve been through the past couple of years, to be back here and to win another major—it means the world.”
Return to Dominance
Koepka’s journey back to major-winning form has been anything but smooth. Following a series of debilitating knee injuries and struggles with consistency, many questioned whether he would ever return to his peak. But the Florida native answered his critics emphatically at Oak Hill with a powerful, poised performance from start to finish.
He opened the tournament with a solid 72 before surging into contention with rounds of 66 and 66 on Friday and Saturday. In the final round, Koepka pulled away from a tightly bunched leaderboard with birdies on holes 2, 3, and 4, setting the tone early and never letting go of the lead.
His win was punctuated by smart course management, unshakable putting, and his trademark ability to elevate under pressure. “That’s what Brooks does,” said Hovland, who played alongside Koepka in the final pairing. “When the lights are brightest, he just steps up.”
Historic Context
With this victory, Koepka joins an elite group of golfers who have won three or more PGA Championships, including legends like Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, and Walter Hagen. He also becomes the first player from the LIV Golf tour to win a major, a detail that adds another layer of intrigue in a time of division and transition within the sport.
“People can say what they want about where I play my golf,” Koepka remarked. “But majors are majors. These are the ones we all want. I play to win these.”
His five major titles now include:
U.S. Open (2017, 2018)
PGA Championship (2018, 2019, 2023)
The only active players with more majors than Koepka are Tiger Woods (15) and Phil Mickelson (6), putting him in rarefied company as he continues to build a Hall of Fame résumé.
A Shifting Landscape
Koepka’s victory is also a significant moment for LIV Golf, the Saudi-backed breakaway league that has been the subject of much controversy since its inception. His win lends credibility to the level of competition in that tour and could further blur the line between the traditional PGA Tour and its upstart rival.
Still, Koepka insists that his focus remains on performance. “All I care about is being the best player I can be. Everything else is just noise,” he said.
Looking Ahead
With renewed health, confidence, and major-championship swagger, Koepka’s resurgence bodes well for fans eager to witness rivalries rekindled and legacies forged. As the golf world turns its attention to the U.S. Open and The Open Championship later this summer, one thing is certain: Brooks Koepka is back, and he’s not going anywhere.
“This is just the beginning,” he smiled. “There’s more to come.”
