US PGA Championship – full leaderboard
By James Corrigan, at Oak Hill Nation Membership
Brooks Koepka was booed on the primary tee, however hailed on the 18th inexperienced. The LIV insurgent turned the jeers into the cheers by the one method he is aware of how – with ominously composed golf in an intense main setting.
On six-under, Koepka holds a one-shot lead over Norwegian Viktor Hovland and Canadian Corey Conners and is getting ready to hanging an almighty blow for the Saudi-funded circuit. After his runner-up finish in The Masters final month, the resurgent four-time main winner is aware of {that a} third USPGA title in 5 years is in tantalising sight.
And as a riposte to all those that heckled when his identify was introduced on Oak Hill’s opening tee, that may not be too shabby.
Enjoying accomplice Bryson DeChambeau was booed extra closely, but additionally shrugged off the hostility to shoot a 70 and on three-under stands the 2020 US Open champion is in fourth. It’s exceptional to assume that solely two years in the past this pair had been concerned in a feud that gripped the sport, however now they’re united in their LIV rebellion. It’s humorous what a couple of hundred million can do.
“I do not care. I imply, it is not a giant deal,” DeChambeau mentioned when requested in regards to the boos. “They’re going to try this it doesn’t matter what. You already know what, look, it is New York, and I count on it right here. I respect the followers. Them doing that to me it is like, okay, cool, no drawback. If we obtained applause, that is implausible and if not, you realize what, no matter it’s, it’s.”
DeChambeau, 29, has an apparent puncher’s likelihood, however after acknowledging that he “choked” at Augusta to permit Jon Rahm into the inexperienced jacket, after a pair of 66s, Koepka believes that is his to lose. “I do know what I did on the Masters, nevertheless it gained’t occur this time,” Koepka mentioned. “It’s sort of irritating however I’ll by no means do it once more.”
England can have hopes of profitable its first Wanamaker Trophy in additional than 100 years with Justin Rose in a tie for fifth with world No 2 Scottie Scheffler (73) on two-under, whereas Tommy Fleetwood has a sniff on one-over courtesy of a 68.
