Sunday, May 21, 2023

PGA Championship, Round 4

The big story of the third round is that over the course of a long, rainy afternoon, Scottie Scheffler probably shot his way out of contention, while Brooks Koepka shot his way into it.  Here was the top 10 after the third round:

1.  B. Koepka-6 (72+66+66=204)

T2.  C. Conners (CAN):  -5 (67+68+70=205)
T2.  V. Hovland (NOR):  -5 (68+67+70=205)

4.  B. DeChambeau-3 (66+71+70=207)

T5.  J. Rose (ENG):  -2 (69+70+69=208)
T5.  S. Scheffler-2 (67+68+73=208)

7.  R. McIlroy (NIR):  -1 (71+69+69=209)

T8.  M. BlockEven (70+70+70=210)
T8.  J. SuhEven (69+68+73=210)

T10.  E. Cole+1 (67+74+70=211)
T10.  T. Fleetwood (ENG):  +1 (72+71+68=211)
T10.  S. Jager (GER):  +1 (72+70+69=211)
T10.  M.W. Lee (AUS):  +1 (73+67+71=211)
T10.  S. Lowry (IRL):  +1 (73+67+71=211)
T10.  V. Perez (FRA):  +1 (70+72+69=211)

A shout-out to Michael Block, who is a 46-year-old club professional in Southern California.  I'm not sure what he has to do to qualify for the Masters, but let's hope he does it.

Also a shout-out to the fans in the Rochester area, who have brought Buffalo Bills-style rowdiness to the PGA Championship.  Lots of loud, boisterous crowds all over the course.

98 comments:

  1. Koepka jumps out with birdies on 2 and 3, and now the leaderboard looks like this:

    1. B. Koepka: -8 (57 holes)
    2. V. Hovland (NOR): -5 (57)
    3. C. Conners (CAN): -4 (57)
    T4. J. Rose (ENG): -3 (57)
    T4. B. DeChambeau: -3 (57)
    T4. V. Perez (FRA): -3 (60)

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  2. Koepka birdies 4, but this time Hovland matches him:

    1. B. Koepka: -9 (58 holes)
    2. V. Hovland (NOR): -6 (58)
    3. C. Conners (CAN): -5 (58)

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  3. By the way, it's not raining in Rochester today. They have very pleasant conditions, and Koepka is really taking advantage.

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  4. On the 5th, Koepka just misses a fourth straight birdie. And then Hovland steps up and knocks in his second straight birdie. Game on!

    1. B. Koepka: -9 (59 holes)
    2. V. Hovland (NOR): -7 (59)
    T3. J. Rose (ENG): -4 (60)
    T3. B. DeChambeau: -4 (59)
    T3. C. Conners (CAN): -4 (59)

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  5. And now Koepka has hit a terrible drive on the 6th hole, and we've got a long discussion going on with Koepka and the officials.

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  6. While Koepka engages in oral argument, Hovland goes for the 6th green with his second shot. But his shot misses the green and lands in a bunker.

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  7. Koepka takes a penalty shot, and whacks his third shot to the back of the 6th green. He's looking at an almost certain bogey.

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  8. Rose bogeys the seventh, and falls back to 3 under.

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  9. CBS reminds us that the 6th hole -- a 504-yd par 4 -- is the hardest hole on the course.

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  10. Scheffler birdies the 7th to move to 3 under.

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  11. There is an enormous crowd all around the 6th green as Koepka lines up a long putt to save par. For once, they are being relatively quiet.

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  12. Koepka had the length right, but the putt drifted off to the left, and he will take a bogey. Now Hovland has a 10-footer to save par.

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  13. That putt was actually 8 feet, 2 inches, and Hovland rolls it in as if it were a two footer. Koepka takes his bogey, and now Hovland is only one shot off the lead.

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  14. 1. B. Koepka: -8 (60 holes)
    2. V. Hovland (NOR): -7 (60)
    T3. B. DeChambeau: -4 (60)
    T3. C. Conners (CAN): -4 (60)

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  15. The 7th hole is a 472-yard par four. Hovland's drive drifts off to the right, and lands in the rough. Koepka's drive is right down the middle, and the Bills fans cheer him on.

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  16. DeChambeau and Conners both bogey the seventh, and now Hovland and Koepka are four shots clear of the field.

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  17. Scheffler birdies the 8th, and moves to 4 under.

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  18. Koepka's second shot misses the green on 7. Hovland's lie was so bad that he had no choice but to lay up. So neither of them is on in regulation.

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  19. Hovland's third shot reaches the green, but he's about 30 feet away from the hole.

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  20. Now Koepka has a really difficult shot. His ball is in the rough on the edge of a greenside bunker. He will have to stand in the bunker, some how loft the ball onto the green, and try to get it somewhere near the hole.

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  21. Koepka had hit 14 greens in regulation in a row, but now he's missed the last two. And that pitch wasn't great -- he's even further from the hole than Hovland.

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  22. Koepka's par putt comes up short, and he will take another bogey. So he birdied 2, 3, and 4, and then bogeyed 6 and 7.

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  23. Now here's Hovland trying to save his par from 23 feet 3 inches. He can't do it, and he takes a bogey.

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  24. 1. B. Koepka: -7 (61 holes)
    2. V. Hovland (NOR): -6 (61)
    3. S. Scheffler: -4 (62)

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  25. Through seven holes, Koepka has three birdies and two bogeys; Hovland has two birdies and one bogey. So they are both one under for the day.

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  26. On the 8th hole -- another really long par 4 -- Hovland's drive goes into the rough. Koepka's drive is right down the middle.

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  27. DeChambeau birdies the 8th, and moves to 4 under.

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  28. Scheffler bogeys the 9th, and falls back to 3 under.

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  29. Koepka's second shot lands on the 8th green, but is well short of the hole. Hovland's shot runs through the green, and he'll be chipping for birdie.

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  30. Hovland makes a great chip, and he saves his par. Koepka makes a good approach putt, and he saves his par.

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  31. 1. B. Koepka: -7 (62 holes)
    2. V. Hovland (NOR): -6 (62)
    3. B. DeChambeau: -4 (62)

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  32. The 9th hole turns out to be a 464-yard par 4. Hovland's drive is in the fairway. Koepka's drive pulls off the left and he will be hitting from out of the gallery.

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  33. The fans came through for Koepka. His ball landed in an area that had been trampled by the fans, so he had a good lie. His second shot reaches the 9th green, but he's far from the hole.

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  34. And now Hovland overhits his shot, and it runs through the green and lands in the rough. Meanwhile, Scheffler birdies 10 to move to 4 under.

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  35. From the rough behind the 9th green, Hovland pulls off a Mickelson-type flop shot that rolls to within about three feet of the hole.

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  36. Hovland saves par and goes out in 1-under par 34. Koepka saves par and goes out in 1-under par 34.

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  37. 1. B. Koepka: -7 (63 holes)
    2. V. Hovland (NOR): -6 (63)
    T3. S. Scheffler: -4 (65)
    T3. B. DeChambeau: -4 (63)

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  38. The 10th hole is a 437-yard par 4. Hovland drives down the middle. So does Koepka. They are being followed by one of the largest non-Tiger galleries I have ever seen. I really like upstate New York, and I'm pleased to see Oak Hill playing so well.

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  39. DeChambeau bogeys the 10th, and falls back to 3 under.

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  40. Hovland puts his second shot in the middle of the 10th green, but Koepka's lands within 10 feet of the hole.

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  41. Hovland misses his long birdie putt, but Koepka makes his shorter birdie putt, and now has a two shot lead.

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  42. 1. B. Koepka: -8 (64 holes)
    2. V. Hovland (NOR): -6 (64)
    3. S. Scheffler: -4 (65)

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  43. Koepka then goes to the par-3 11th and plugs his tee shot right into the side of a bunker. That's a disaster. Hovland goes next and puts his shot right in the middle of the green.

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  44. The 11th is a 246-yard par 3. I was ready to see a different type of hole.

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  45. McIlroy birdies the 13th to move to 3-under par, and gets a huge roar from the crowd.

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  46. After pondering for a while, Koepka blasts out. His ball was right up against a bank, but he whanged the ball up and over the bank, and it stopped within 10 feet of the hole. Great shot.

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  47. Hovland now with a big birdie putt. He's 25 feet away. The CBS folks comment that he hasn't made any long putts this weekend, and then his putt just slides past. That's a par.

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  48. Now Koepka tries to save his par, from 12 1/2 feet away. He just misses on the edge, and falls back to 7 under.

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  49. 1. B. Koepka: -7 (65 holes)
    2. V. Hovland (NOR): -6 (65)
    3. S. Scheffler: -4 (66)

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  50. The 12th is a 389-yd par 4, which for these guys is a birdie opportunity. Both Hovland and Koepka drive into the fairway.

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  51. DeChambeau and Conners both bogey the 12th, and they fall back to 2 under.

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  52. Hovland hits a beautiful wedge on 12, and he'll have a good chance at birdie.

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  53. Scheffler has a 4 1/2 footer for birdie on 13. He makes it, and moves to 5 under par.

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  54. From just off the fringe, Koepka holes a very important birdie putt from about 10 feet. Great job, and he's back to 8 under. Now the pressure is back on Hovland, and his putt drifts just past the hole on the left. What a huge turnaround.

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  55. 1. B. Koepka: -8 (66 holes)
    2. V. Hovland (NOR): -6 (66)
    3. S. Scheffler: -5 (67)

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  56. Scheffler comes to the 14th, which is a 320-yard par 4. He goes for the green, but misses and lands in a greenside bunker.

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  57. The 13th is a 612-yard par 5. Koepka hits a 3-wood to the right edge of the fairway. Hovland pulls out a driver, and whacks it off to the left. It hits a tree, and drops down into the rough.

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  58. AND MICHAEL BLOCK, THE CLUB PROFESSIONAL, MAKES A HOLE IN ONE ON THE 15TH HOLE! He's still at even par for the tournament, in a tie for 14th, and the crowd is going nuts! Good for him!

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  59. That ball went in on the fly. At first, Block couldn't believe what had happened. He's playing with Rory McIlroy, and McIlroy was the first to congratulate him. What a day!

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  60. Everybody should get a day like this. For Block, it's having Nantz call a hole in one and having Rory congratulate you. But we should all get something like this. If you're a writer, there should be a day where Oprah tells everyone how great you are, and Stephen King congratulates you.

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  61. Nantz tells us that Block is in a tie for 14th, and if he can finish in the top 15, he gets to be in next year's PGA.

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    Replies
    1. He'd have to finish in the top 4 to reach the Masters, so that's not likely.

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  62. Meanwhile, Hovland is hitting a 160-yard pitch shot to the 13th green. It's a good shot, and he'll have something like 12 feet for a birdie.

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  63. Koepka's pitch, from only 137 yards away, comes up short, and rolls down the front of the green.

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  64. Scheffler makes a great bunker shot, and birdies the 14th hole. He is now 6 under.

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  65. Koepka runs a long putt up onto the 13th green. It runs about 8 feet past the hole, and he'll need that for par.

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  66. Hovland makes his birdie putt, and moves to 7 under. Now Koepka really needs to save par.

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  67. Koepka's putt is a 10-footer that is downhill, and he somehow rolls it into the cup. An amazing putt to save par. The crowd goes wild.

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  68. 1. B. Koepka: -8 (67 holes)
    2. V. Hovland (NOR): -7 (67)
    3. S. Scheffler: -6 (68)

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  69. Hovland goes for the green on the 320-yard par 4 14th. He comes up in the rough short of the green. Now Koepka pulls out his driver. He hits a glorious shot -- it lands on the green, and rolls into the fringe. He will be putting for eagle. It felt like Koepka had been waiting all day to hit that shot.

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  70. Hovland's pitch shot from the rough runs about 7 feet past the hole. Now Koepka for eagle. He hits it hard, and it runs about 3 feet past.

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  71. Hovland makes his second birdie in a row, and moves to 8 under. And then Koepka matches him, and goes to 9 under.

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  72. 1. B. Koepka: -9 (68 holes)
    2. V. Hovland (NOR): -8 (68)
    3. S. Scheffler: -6 (69)

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  73. Now we come to the 151-yard par 3 15th, where Michael Block made a hole in one. It's all long par 4's after this. Hovland and Koepka both land on the putting surface, but a long way from the hole.

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  74. Koepka has 31 feet for birdie, and he comes up about one foot short. He taps in for par.

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  75. Now Hovland has 28 feet for birdie. But he doesn't read it right, and it drifts off to the right. He takes a par, and we have three long par 4's left.

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  76. 1. B. Koepka: -9 (69 holes)
    2. V. Hovland (NOR): -8 (69)
    3. S. Scheffler: -6 (70)

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  77. The 16th hole is a 458-yard par 4.

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  78. Michael Block walks up the 18th fairway, past a huge crowd of folks chanting "BLOCK! BLOCK! BLOCK!" Good for him. He's 1 over and tied for 15th with one hole left.

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  79. From a fairway bunker, Hovland takes a full swing -- and drives his ball straight into the bank of the bunker. The exact same thing happened to Conners yesterday, when he was leading the tournament. The ball is embedded in the bank, so the official is now talking Hovland through the mechanics of taking a drop.

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  80. Block, who must be exhausted, whangs his second shot into the gallery next to the 18th green.

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  81. Meanwhile, Hovland is still working on his drop.

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  82. Back to Block, who needs to get up and down from the gallery to finish in the top 15. This is basically like trying to play in the middle of a Bills' tailgate party. They finally get everyone back and calmed down. Block pitches the ball perfectly onto the green, and it rolls to within about eight feet. The crowd goes wild, as they should.

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  83. Hovland's third shot is a pitch from the lip of the bunker, and he can only pitch it into the fairway. Then Koepka pitches his second shot to within less than 10 feet.

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  84. And now BLOCK MAKES HIS FINAL PUTT! He shoots a 71 to finish at one over par for the tournament. He is tied for 15th place, and he will be invited to the 2024 PGA Championship. McIlroy finishes at 2 under, and then the crowd really goes wild. Block walks out onto the green, points at the crowd, and taps his heart. The crowd chants "BLOCK! BLOCK! BLOCK!" Go Rochester! Go for the Empire State!

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  85. Hovland's fourth shot lands on the 16th green. He misses his bogey putt, and he takes a double bogey to fall back to 6 under par. Now Koepka has about three feet for birdie, and he knocks it in. After a long and stressful day, Koepka has a four shot lead with two holes left.

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  86. 1. B. Koepka: -10 (70 holes)
    T2. S. Scheffler: -6 (71)
    T2. V. Hovland (NOR): -6 (70)

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  87. They're interviewing Block, who is in tears. He says this is the best day of his life.

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  88. Scheffler birdies the last to finish with an amazing 65. He is now 7 under for the tournament. And then Koepka bogeys the 17th to fall to 9 under.

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  89. One hole left:

    1. B. Koepka: -9 (71 holes)
    2. S. Scheffler: -7 (72)
    3. V. Hovland (NOR): -6 (71)

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  90. Here is a list of men with exactly 5 major championships since 1920. Koepka is looking to join this list:

    Seve Ballesteros (ESP) (2 Masters, 3 British Opens)
    Peter Thomson (AUS) (5 British Opens)
    Byron Nelson: (2 Masters, 1 U.S. Open, 2 PGA's)

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  91. Koepka's drive on 18 lands in the fairway.

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  92. You will recall that Koepka had the lead going into the last round of the Masters, only to shoot a 75. He lost by four shots to Jon Rahm, who shot a 69. But Koepka has been magnificent today. He was under extreme pressure all day, and never cracked.

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  93. Koepka's second shot is a beauty that lands about 10 feet from the hole, and he is going to win the 2023 PGA Championship.

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  94. The last man to win a fifth major was Phil Mickelson, who did it when he won the 2013 British Open. The last man to do it before that was Tiger Woods, when he won the 2000 PGA. So this is a big deal.

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  95. Hovland makes a long birdie at the last to tie Scheffler for second. He shot a 68 on the last day of a major -- despite a double bogey. That's a great round.

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  96. Koepka's birdie putt comes up an inch short, and he taps in for a 67. BROOKS KOEPKA WINS THE 2023 PGA CHAMPIONSHIP, CAPTURING HIS FIFTH MAJOR TITLE.

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  97. This was a great tournament. Great job by CBS. Great job by the players, and especially Koepka. And a great job by the folks at Oak Hill and their architect, Andrew Green. He took a course that I really didn't like, and turned it into a real showplace that clearly and accurately identified the best players in the game. Hooray for everyone! Hooray for golf!

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