LOS ANGELES – For a while on Saturday, it seemed that the U.S. The U.S. Open felt like a Hollywood movie as Brooks Koepka began his bid for a major title. He was able to sneak up on the leaders and get close enough to be noticed by the other primates.
He started the third round of the Los Angeles Country Club at 10 strokes behind the overnight leader Rickie. But the two-time champion – who also won three PGA Championships in U.S. Open venues – knows that often the score leading on Saturday morning is lower than the final score Sunday night. If he could post a number, he would be in contention for his sixth major and second this season. He was doing just that for a time.
Koepka moved from 30th place at dawn to lower ranks of the top 10 after four birdies and one bogey. The steely competitor, who often appeared impervious to mortal struggles on weekends at majors, hit a pothole. Another pothole appeared. He was almost back to where he started the day by the time he had signed for his round of 70.
Koepka declared earlier this week that he would play a round of golf on the North Course at L.A.C.C. with his friends if it was a friendly game. But as the venue for the U.S. Open? Not really. Gil Hanse’s restored layout still confuses him after three rounds. He said that you could hit the ball so it just barely touches the left side of the fairway and miss the right fairway on eight. “And everyone hits it at the same spot when you’re on three.” Why don’t you just play from the wedge? It makes no sense.”
Does it reach the level of unfairness?
He quickly responded, “No. I don’t find it unfair at all.” It’s fair enough.”
I asked him about the 15th hole. It was 81 yards long and had a pin placed on a tiny sliver green.
He asked, “Which is 15?”
The one you four-putted.
He laughed. “Honestly, it’s fine. “I just hit it too far and made four putts.”
It’s difficult because of the wind. “The wind is inconsistent,” he said. “The guys in front of us teed it off when it was calm. Then we got it straight upwind. “I put it up, and it sailed.”
I asked him when he last used a lob wedge. I must have been young. “It was probably 12 or younger.”
Koepka was happy to be where he needed to be when he reached the 15th tee. “I thought that if I made a birdie here, maybe one coming in, then get to 5-under-par, it would be great.” But the double-bogey dashed his hopes. He was reluctant to admit this as he stood outside the clubhouse. He shrugged and said, “Two players shot 8 under par on Thursday.” “You never can tell.”
Do you need that on Sunday? He replied, “Probably more to be safe.”
Koepka was in the top 10 of the field when he signed his card. However, this doesn’t translate into a realistic chance to win Sunday. “It was just a few uncharacteristic errors.” He said, “I hit it well. I’m doing stuff I don’t usually do when I’m in majors or clicking on all the cylinders.” “I am definitely hitting it well enough and putting well enough to compete. It’s just small stuff.”
“I enjoy playing the week prior to clear my head of all this,” he said. Koepka played in LIV tournaments before the Masters and the PGA Championship. He won both. His last competitive appearance before arriving in Los Angeles was at a LIV event held three weeks earlier, just before he arrived. He will not be playing in the week leading up to the next major. LIV will be playing in Spain, the U.K. and then take a week off before the Open Championship.
Koepka’s discipline during majors is legendary. He is known for sticking to a plan with the slavish dedication of a true disciple. He said that was true also this week, but he wasn’t executing. “I’ve stuck to it. “I didn’t control my ball 100 percent at Oak Hill, where he won the PGA Championship.” I don’t think I knew where the ball would go on either Saturday or Sunday but I willed that it to move. This is like …. aarrghh!”
Koepka is remorseful for a missed chance. Normally, par on 54 holes would be enough to get a player into contention in the U.S. Open. He started Saturday as a longshot, briefly became a competitor, and ended the day knowing that he was just making up numbers on Sunday. What was it that you needed to do to make other players think of you tomorrow? I asked.
He flashed the Chiclet teeth. He laughed. “There are a lot people who think of me every day.” “Let’s face it.”
