Gary Woodland Holds off Brooks Koepka to Win First Ever Major in US Open at Pebble Beach
By Scott Rogust
Despite a tremendous comeback effort by defending champion Brooks Koepka, Gary Woodland (-13) was able to hold him off to win the 119th US Open. More importantly, Woodland secured his first ever major win.
Even with Koepka (-10) and Justin Rose (-7) nipping at his heels, Woodland was dominant throughout his stay at Pebble Beach.
In fact, he held the 36-hole and 54-hole leads at the US Open. Prior to the tournament, Woodland was 0-for-7 in converting 54-hole leads into victories. That all changed on Sunday.
Woodland would bogey on the 12th hole and have a bit of a scare on the 13th, but it didn't deter him. The 35-year-old hit a birdie on hole 14 to extend his lead over Koepka by two shots.
Woodland hit the dagger with a long birdie on the 18th hole to hold back the defending champ and earn his first ever major win.
The US Open had tight competition and a clutch swing, just what any golf fan would have wanted.