Brooks Koepka hoisted his first major trophy on Sunday after finishing four shots clear at the top of the pile at the 117th US Open at a windswept Erin Hills. The American enjoyed a stunning final day, conjuring up a five-under 67, which contributed to a record equalling -16 under-par, and a cushy £1.6m in prize money.
Below we take a look at the major talking points from the US Open.
All Hail King Koepka
The ante-post favourites may have struggled with the gargantuan 7,845-yard Erin Hills - the longest in major championship history - but big-hitting Koepka, a 35/1 shot, excelled across the board with his dynamite drives, pinpoint accuracy and patient putting, which he combined to full effect as he equalled Rory McIlroy’s record lowest US Open’s lowest winning score of -16 (set in 2011).
Now he has a taste for major success Koepka, who handled the gusty conditions superbly, is targeting success in the two remaining showcase spectacles: The Open (July) and PGA Championship (August), and can currently be backed at 33/1 in each market. But, for the moment at least, the 27-year-old can lap up the widespread praise at the summit of the golfing ladder.
First Time Winners On Point
Each of the last seven successive majors have produced a first-time champion. Since Jason Day won the PGA Championship in 2015, Danny Willett, Dustin Johnson, Henrik Stenson, Jimmy Walker, Sergio Garcia and now Koepka have all triumphed for the first time in their respective careers, and this trend could well continue at Royal Birkdale next month.
American players have accounted for six of the last 10 major successes, while Spain, England, Sweden and Australia each have one apiece. Elsewhere, seven of the top-11 finishers were in their 20s, three in their 30s, whereas Charlie Hoffman was the only 40+ golf in this bracket.
What Happened To The Big Guns?
Dustin Johnson, Roy McIlroy, Jason Day, and Jordan Spieth may have dominated the betting in the build-up to the US Open, but only the latter made the cut at Erin Hills, before settling for a T35 finish, 17 shots adrift of Koepka.
It was remarkably the first time since World rankings were introduced back in 1986, that the top-3 players on the planet - Johnson, McIlroy and Day - failed to make it to the weekend at a major tournament.
It proved to be a disappointing couple of days for defending champion Johnson (+4), 2011 victor McIroy (+5), and Aussie Day (+10), with McIroy left red-faced after he rubbished criticisms of the course in the build-up to the US Open, only to then struggle himself.
Brit Watch
Fleetwood will rightly gain the plaudits after a simply superb 4th place showing in Wisconsin. The 26-year-old enjoyed an excellent four days, and while he’ll be gutted he didn’t end up on top, his final score of -11 - in only his second appearance - is something he can be immensely proud of.
Only six other Britons made the cut, including Eddie Pepperell who finished a major career high T16, and Paul Casey (26th), who will be ruing his costly three-over 75 on Saturday which effectively ended his challenge after he previously shared the lead at the summit. Casey has been hammering on the door for a first major win with three consecutive top-6 finishes at the Masters, and T10 at the PGA Championship last season, meaning his time could well come in the next couple of months.
Elsewhere, there was Martin Laird (T32), Matt Fitzpatrick (T35), Andrew Johnston (T42), while Lee Westwood may have started the tournament brightly but in the end he frustratingly finished down in T55 on +7.
