SOUTHAMPTON, New York—Brooks Koepka defending his title was the expected storyline for the 118th U.S. Open and it provided the perfect counterpoint to the near travesty the United States Golf Association (USGA) caused with its ill-thought-out preparation for host course Shinnecock Hills during Saturday’s third-round play.
The 28-year-old American closed with a three-under-par 68 to win by one shot over Englishman Tommy Fleetwood who tied the record for the lowest round ever scored in a U.S. Open with a closing 63. Koepka becomes just the seventh golfer to successfully defend his title—the last being American Curtis Strange in 1988-89.
