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Brooks Koepka wins back-to-back US Open titles; Utah’s Tony Finau finishes 5th

Posted at 4:41 PM, Jun 17, 2018
and last updated 2018-06-17 18:47:48-04

By Rob Hodgetts, CNN

Brooks Koepka became the first man to win back-to-back US Open titles for 29 years after overcoming a testing and controversial week at Shinnecock Hills.

The 28-year-old Floridian triumphed by one shot on a absorbing afternoon to back up his breakthrough major victory at Erin Hills 12 months ago.

He began the day in a four-way tie for the lead and carded a two-under 68 for one over to edge England’s Tommy Fleetwood, who fired only the sixth round of 63 in US Open history.

Koepka, who missed a chunk of the early season with a wrist injury, finished two clear of world No.1 Dustin Johnson three ahead of Masters champion Patrick Reed.

The last of the six previous back-to-back US Open winners was Curtis Strange in 1988 and 1989.

Koepka’s win snapped a streak of nine first-time major winners out of the previous 10 events.

Utah’s own Tony Finau also found his way to the leader board. The West High grad was in a four-way tie for first coming into the Final Round, and Finau finished fifth overall—a personal best in the US Open for Finau.