Monday, June 19, 2017
Are the Seminoles and Gators taking over the PGA Tour? Maybe not, but recent results point out just how competitive Florida's schools have become. Brooks Koepka's record-tying victory in the U. S. Open makes it three victories for the two paragons of higher learning in the last five tour events. The week before the Open, Seminole Daniel Berger captured the FedEx St. Jude Classic in Memphis, and on May 21, Gator Billy Horschel won the At&T Byron Nelson in Fort Worth.
Their stellar play, even before the victories, has been quite lucrative for the trio, with Koepka leading the way. The $2,160,000 check at Erin Hills moved him up to fifth on the money list with $4,464,771 in the bank. Berger's $1,152,000 payday has him in 12th place with $2,894,734, while Horschel is 19th with $2,541,971 after his deposit of $1,350,000 in Texas.
At 16 under par, Koepka tied Rory McIlroy for the lowest 72-hole score in relation to par in the long history of the event. His Sunday 67 was best for the tournament champion since a fellow named Tiger did it in 2000 at Pebble Beach. When it was white-knuckle time on the final nine holes, Brooks looked like an adult playing against children. Rarely has a major winner appeared to be so cool and calm when the chips were down as attested to by the number of fairways and greens he hit in regulation while his closest rivals were struggling to keep it in the fairway.
Brooks wound up winning by three over Brian Harman, who struggled late and shot 72, and Hideki Matsuyama, whose 66 was the best score on Sunday. Hideki couldn't quite overcome his opening-day 74. Tommy Fleetwood and Rickie Fowler, who both had legitimate shots teeing off on No. 1, also struggled, both posting even-par 72s. Justin Thomas, tied with Brooks after 54 holes via his third-round 63, skied to a 3-over 75 and fell to 8 under and a tie for ninth. Aside from Koepka and Matsuyama, only six players were able to break 70 in the finale - Bill Haas, X. Schauffele, TreyMullinax, Matt Kuchar, Steve Stricker and Jordan Spieth. But all began too far back to make a difference.
FOUR FOR BROOKE - Canadian Brooke Henderson, who hasn't reached her 20th birthday, closed with a 66 to win the Meijer Classic in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She was two strokes better than resurgent Michelle Wie, who shot 65 Sunday, and Lexi Thompson, the third-round leader who could do no better than 69. Brooke's fourth LPGA victory was worth $300,000. Lydia Ko's losing streak continued, but she still came in at 12-under and deadlocked for 10th.
BACK TO WEB.COM - After missing the cut (74-76-150) at Erin Hills, Ted Potter is back on the Web.com trail this week at the $550,000 Lincoln Land Charity Championship at the Panther Creek Country Club in Springfield, Illinois.
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