Brooks Koepka is playing for this third-straight U.S. Open championship at Pebble Beach Golf Links on Sunday.
And it appears he’s got Karma on his side.
He began the day 4 shots behind Gary Woodland before he promptly birdied the first hole to move to 8-under on the tournament.
But more important for Koepka’s chances for a three-peat was to make sure he avoids bogeys.
That’s what happened with a nifty par save on the massive par-4, 523-yard No. 2 hole.
He launched his tee shot over everything on the right side and landed it in the far second cut 358 yards away from the tee. His second shot cleared the fairway and landed high-side left. On his third shot, aiming from tall grass on an incline next to the bunker 73 yards out, he dropped his wedge to the green 5 feet past the hole – like a two-time defending U.S. Open champion often does.
He then softly pushed home his ball for par.
Afterward, the usually stoic and focused Koepka adopted the heart of the nation on Father’s Day by giving his ball to an adorable young girl named Layla Friedman, who was with her dad, Gary Friedman, watching it all unfold.
The gesture was class.
The reaction was classic.
Koepka did Karma a solid.
He would soon add birdies at No. 3 and 4 and was 10 under after four holes.
We’ll see if it pays off in the end.
