Brooks Koepka made history on Sunday by winning his second consecutive U.S. Open title, becoming the first player to do so since Curtis Strange in 1989.
Koepka shot a final-round 68 at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in New York, finishing at one over par for the tournament and one stroke ahead of Tommy Fleetwood, who tied the U.S. Open record with a 63 on Sunday.
Koepka, who missed the first four months of the year with a wrist injury, said he was motivated by the doubters who questioned his ability to defend his title.
"I always feel like I'm overlooked. I couldn't care less. It doesn't bug me," he said. "I just keep doing what I'm doing, keep plugging away, kind of hide behind closed doors sometimes, which is nice, kind of the way I'd like to keep it."
Koepka showed his mental toughness and resilience throughout the week, as Shinnecock Hills proved to be a brutal test of golf, with high winds, thick rough and fast greens. He was one of only three players to break par in the third round, and he held off a charging Fleetwood on Sunday with clutch putts and solid ball-striking.
Koepka also had to overcome a controversial incident on Saturday, when he accidentally hit a spectator in the head with his tee shot on the sixth hole. The woman, who was bleeding from her forehead, was taken to a hospital for stitches. Koepka apologized to her and gave her a signed glove.
"It's not a fun feeling. I probably do it way more than I should," he said. "It seems just about every week we're hitting somebody, and you know, it's unfortunate. You're never trying to."
With his second U.S. Open win, Koepka joined an elite group of players who have won multiple majors in the past 50 years, including Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Tom Watson, Phil Mickelson and Rory McIlroy.
Koepka said he was inspired by his good friend Dustin Johnson, who won the U.S. Open in 2016 and is currently the world No. 1.
"He's one of my best friends. I love the guy to death," he said. "He's been a big part of what I've done. He's one of the reasons why I've gotten so good."
