Majors in 2019: The story so far ahead of The Open
Monday 15 July 2019 08:05, UK
The 148th Open Championship at Royal Portrush will bring the curtain down on the majors this season.
There is sure to be plenty of drama at the stunning links in Northern Ireland, but there has already been some historic and thrilling action in the first three majors of the year, with Americans winning all of them.
The Masters kicked things off in its traditional early April slot at Augusta National and it provided one of the golfing stories of this or any other year as Tiger Woods claimed his 15th major victory and fifth Green Jacket.
Francesco Molinari looked destined for victory with seven holes remaining, but the Italian faltered down the stretch and found water at 12 and 15, while Woods vaulted into a two-shot lead with three birdies in four holes from the 13th.
With challenges from the likes of Dustin Johnson, Xander Schauffele and Brooks Koepka coming up just short towards the end of a remarkable back nine, Woods held it together and completed a two-under 70 for a winning score of 13 under par which secured him his first major since the 2008 US Open.
"I'm a little hoarse from yelling," said the 43-year-old. "I was just trying to plod my way around all day then all of a sudden I had the lead.
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"Coming up 18 I was just trying to make a five. When I tapped in I don't know what I did, I know I screamed. It will be up there with one of the hardest I've had to win because of what has transpired in the last couple of years."
There was even talk of a Tiger Woods Grand Slam after his Masters victory but his efforts had clearly taken their toll and, after taking time off, he missed the cut at the PGA Championship.
Taking place in its new mid-May date this year instead of in August following a shuffling of the schedule, the PGA Championship became the second major of the campaign.
And history was made at Bethpage Black as Koepka became the first player to win four major championships in two years or less, as well as becoming first man to hold two major championship titles in back-to-back years simultaneously.
The American produced a dominant performance and led from wire-to-wire, kicking off with rounds of 63 and 65 to lead by seven shots at the halfway stage.
Koepka remained seven clear after the third round but then had to survive a back-nine collapse and a final-round fightback from Johnson before clinging on for victory.
The defending champion was still six ahead with eight holes to play, only to see his lead cut to one after four consecutive bogeys.
Johnson dropped shots on two of his last three holes to close out a one-under 69 and set the target at six under, as Koepka stuttered home with a four-over 74 to secure a two-stroke win.
The Open 2019 Countdown: Live - 15/07/2019
"To be standing here today with four majors, it's mind-blowing," said a relieved Koepka afterwards. "But this is definitely the most satisfying out of all of them for how stressful that round was, and how stressful DJ made that. I know for a fact, that was the most excited I've ever been in my life ever there on 18.
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"You've just got to hang tough, and it's been so enjoyable. It was nice to finish on 18, and I'm just glad we didn't have to play any more holes, that's for sure."
Koepka's next target was to complete a hat-trick of US Open victories at Pebble Beach in June and he almost achieved that remarkable feat after gradually improving his position over the first three rounds before running into an inspired Gary Woodland.
Woodland was two clear the halfway stage and took a one-shot lead over Justin Rose into the final round, with Koepka a further three shots back.
After Rose's challenge faded early on the back nine, Woodland made a crucial birdie at the 14th to keep Koepka at bay and a brilliant wedge shot from 90 feet on the 17th green to save par effectively sealed the victory.
The 35-year-old American then holed a 35-foot birdie putt at the last to claim his first major success by three shots from Koepka, with Rose sharing third place three further back with Schauffele, Jon Rahm and Chez Reavie.
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"I think from a mental standpoint I was as good as I've ever been," said Woodland. "I never let myself get ahead of myself. I never thought about what would happen if I won, what comes with it. I wanted to execute every shot. I wanted to stay in the moment. I wanted to stay within myself."
