Brooks Koepka, the 29-year-old Florida golfing phenom, won the 2019 PGA Championship on Sunday for the second year in a row, as he shot eight under par at The Black Course in Farmingdale, New York, for a final round score of 74, defeating Dustin Johnson by two strokes. This is Koepka's fourth major championship, as he won the 2017 and 2018 U.S. Open and the 2018 PGA Championship.

 

 

 

 

Koepka became the first player since Tiger Woods in 2006 and 2007 to win the PGA Championship in back-to-back years. He did so in dominating fashion, entering final round play with a massive seven-stroke lead, though Dustin Johnson made things difficult for him in final round play.

 

 

 

"I'm just glad we didn't have to play anymore holes. That was a stressful round of golf," Koepka said upon receiving the Wanamaker Trophy. "DJ played awesome, but I'm glad to have this thing back in my hands."

 

 

 

 

Johnson, the world's No. 1 ranked player, gave Koepka a run for his money during final round, as he parred five holes on the back nine to finish only two strokes from victory. Johnson shot a final round score of 69 to finish six under par, as he and Koepka dueled before a rowdy Suffolk Country crowd at The Black Course at Bethpage State Park public golf course.

 

 

 

While Johnson's near-final round comeback created high drama Sunday, Koepka was the real story. Koepka came into final round play with a stunning seven-stroke lead. Koepka led throughout the tournament, and he became the first player to go wire-to-wire in the PGA Championship since Hal Sutton in 1983.

 

 

 

 

Koepka's seven stroke lead after the first three rounds was the largest 54-hole lead in the PGA Championship since its 1958 switch to stroke play. The Florida-born professional had to feel good about his chances coming into final round play, as no one had ever lost a seven-stroke lead in 159 years of major championship golf.

 

 

 

But on Sunday, he played his poorest outing of the week, mainly due to gusty 20-to-25 mph winds. Koepka started out well on the front nine as he birdied hole 4, a par-5, and then parred holes 5 through 9. He seemed poised to run away with the championship.

 

 

 

For a moment, it seemed like the greatest collapse in the history of golf actually was imminent. Koepka's lead was shaved from seven to two, thanks to an impressive back nine by Johnson.

 

 

(CBS news)