Majors machine Brooks Koepka will bid for a hat-trick of US Open titles — and then seek to power to a first Open Championship victory with the help of his Portrush caddie.
The new world No.1 won his fourth Major title in 23 months on Sunday in a tense finish to the US PGA . Only Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson have won more among current players.
And the American, who also finished runner-up at the Masters last month, could yet complete his career Grand Slam at Augusta before Rory McIlroy does if this hot streak lasts.
After the US Open at Pebble Beach in California next month, The Open returns to McIlroy’s Northern Ireland for the first time since 1951 in July.
And Koepka will have the inside track on Royal Portrush from his own Ulsterman, Ricky Elliott.
“We’ll take each one as it comes, so it’s Pebble Beach next and then Portrush, and hopefully he can do the business there,” said the caddie.
Brooks Koepka retains US PGA title after surviving late wobble in New York
“I played there [Portrush] a lot growing up. But Brooks hits it different to the lines I hit it on! A bit of local knowledge never hurts. Brooks has got a big fan base over there... probably because of me. He will be well supported.”
Koepka, who has two top-10 Open finishes, said of caddie Elliott: “He knows the course – he grew up two minutes from there. He should know where to hit it. I’ve never been to Ireland, which is shocking because I’ve been all over the world. So I’m looking forward to going. It will be special for him. And for me.”
The genial Elliott, a former Ulster Boys champion, started working with the American at the US PGA six years ago.
“My job is to keep it light,” said the Ulsterman. “He is pretty intense out on the course.”
Koepka also has Pete Cowen on his team.
The Yorkshire coach said: “Ricky brought him to me because he told Brooks, ‘Your short game is appalling’ – and he wasn’t joking. But no one works harder and now he doesn’t have a weakness.”
Brooks Koepka explains why he deserved US PGA crowd to turn against him
Cowen famously gave Koepka a “b******ing” for his attitude before he won his first Major at the 2017 US Open but never doubted he would close out his fourth win on Sunday.
“He’s the type of player I love working with – a street fighter,” said Cowen. “The lad’s just got balls of steel.”
He needed them in the gusting wind at Bethpage Black on New York's Long Island.
Koepka admitted he was “half-choking” as he made four consecutive bogeys on the back nine to see Dustin Johnson close to within one shot. No player in Major history had ever blown a seven-shot lead on the final day.
The last round made comparisons with Woods seem premature. When Tiger led by 10 shots going into the final round of the 2000 US Open, he went on to win by 15.
“I wasn’t nervous. I was in shock,” Koepka admitted. “This was by far the most stressful Major win. And the most satisfying.”
