Brooks Koepka began his PGA Championship title defense on the par-4 10th hole Thursday at Bethpage Black. The second nine is the more difficult side, but Koepka didn’t have any issues.
After hitting his approach shot a little long at No. 10, he drained a 40-footer to quickly reach 1 under.
ICYMI ... Brooks Koepka opened with a pretty sweet birdie.#PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/HupvByWN0w
— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 16, 2019
He then made this putt at the par-3 14th to temporarily tie for the lead.
"He knew it." - Koepka joins the lead.#PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/HBvJ62yyPJ
— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 16, 2019
And completed his opening nine holes with a birdie at the par-4 18th to reach 3 under par, again to tie for the lead.
Defending #PGAChamp @BKoepka with a 32 on his opening 9. Tied for the lead.🤩 pic.twitter.com/7JXL3Y8Zrm
— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 16, 2019
The top spot was his alone after one hole on the front.
Koepka ... Alone at the top. #PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/sp1uzkxIsB
— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 16, 2019
And with this birdie at the par-3 third hole, Koepka moved two clear of the field.
Brooks Koepka continuing to do @BKoepka things 😳 ANOTHER birdie and 2 shot lead. #PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/TT4KWpWBI2
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) May 16, 2019
Koepka added another birdie to his card at the fifth hole and, to put an exclamation on his round, finished with a seventh red number at the last. Koepka fired a 7-under-par 63 to take a four-shot lead.
Can anything stop Brooks Koepka?
— PGA of America (@PGA) May 16, 2019
A birdie on the final hole gives him a 7-under 63 for the round. 🔥 #PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/Wsbj9AMUnp