Gary Woodland Wins First Major At Pebble Beach After Brooks Koepka Was Seeking Third-Straight Major [VIDEO]

The 119th U.S. Open in Pebble Beach wrapped up this past weekend, with Gary Woodland winning the trophy after a thrilling final round.

Brooks Koepka was seeking his third-straight Open trophy, which would’ve matched the 114-year-old record for an American to win three in a row. Woodland denied Koepka, who fought until the end, finishing second with -10, while Woodland won by three strokes (-13). Woodland came home with $2.25 million dollars after the win, the biggest payout in golf history. Koepka won $1.4 million, while Jon Rahm, Justin Rose, Chez Reavie and Xander Schauffele split the third place each winning $582,000 going -7.

Woodland coped with the pressure of first place all throughout Sunday after holding first place as early as Saturday, with Koepka and Co. breathing down his neck through the final 18. Woodland claimed his first U.S. Open title on Sunday in dramatic fashion, sealing his win with a clutch par on 17 and a birdie on 18.

“I never let myself get ahead,” Woodland said, according to ESPN. “Once that went in, it all came out of me. It’s special to finish it off here at Pebble Beach.”

Koepka will go home with a slight chip on his shoulder after pushing Woodland but never being able to top him, although he did break the U.S. Open record for being the first player to score in all 60s on every round without winning.

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Tiger Woods started the weekend slow, shooting a 70, 72 and 71 before finishing on Sunday with a 69 in his famous red. Woods equaled his lowest round at an Open since 2009 this weekend after winning his 15th major at the Masters back in April. Woods will likely be skipping the next forthcoming rounds to prepare for the British Open coming next month.

“I’m going to take a little bit of time off and enjoy some family time,” Woods said, according to USA Today.

The Kansas grad capped off Father’s Day with a major title that made his peers and his parents more than proud.

Article by Tyler Pence

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