Wellington product and Palm Beach Gardens resident Brooks Koepka had a U.S. Open week he’ll never forget. His fourth-place finish not only wrapped up his PGA Tour card for the 2014-15 season but clinched his first appearance in next year’s Masters tournament.
When he was informed of the latter, he couldn’t contain his enthusiasm: “Could this day get any better?”
Koepka had a solid tournament from start to finish. An eagle-3 at the par-5 fifth hole got his first round started and put him at 3-under, giving him a lead in the tournament that lasted about an hour. He would make the turn in 2-under 33 before two more bogeys left him at even-par 70.
He posted a 2-under 68 in Round 2 and was very much in contention before a 72 on Saturday dropped him to seventh. And while he made two birdies against three bogeys on Sunday, it was his birdie at No. 18 that lifted him to a tie for fourth that assured his spot in the Masters.
Needing a 17th-place finish or better to get his Tour card for next season based on FedEx Cup points, he achieved that goal easily.
“That’s always been a dream of mine,” he said. “And do to it here, at the U.S. Open, that’s special.”
Koepka was still sorting out his upcoming schedule after his round but is entered in this week’s Travelers Championship in suburban Hartford, Conn., where Palm City’s Ken Duke is defending champion. After that he has made tentative plans to play in both the French Open July 3-6 and the Scottish Open July 10-13 in hopes of qualifying for his first British Open July 17-20 at Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Hoylake, England.
After that he expects to be at the PGA Championship Aug. 4-10 at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky.
