Koepka flirts with course record until late mistakes

It's not hyperbole to say Brooks Koepka had one of the best eight-hole stretches in the history of U.S. Open play at Oakmont Country Club.

Asked what was working for him between the fourth and 11th holes of his final round Sunday, Koepka's initial one-word answer summed it up succinctly.

“Everything,” the 26-year-old said.

“Everything seemed to be going pretty well.”

Koepka made a serious run at history. Even after bogeying two of his first three holes, he was 6-under for the round as he played No. 12 and needed only to play the final seven holes at 1-under to tie Johnny Miller's course-record 63. Even a new major-championship record for any round (62) was within his grasp.

“I knew that,” Koepka said. “I was hoping for something even lower. I was hoping for 60, 61. I thought that was pretty obtainable.

“The 4-iron we hit in the bunker on the par 3 (13th), I mean, that was just an awful tee shot. You put that one in the fairway; you're making a good run.”

After the scorching stretch, Koepka had four-consecutive bogeys (Nos. 14-17) and finished his round at 2-under. Miller's record was safe, and Koepka dropped well out of contention.

“When you know it's your day, it's your day,” Koepka said. “Just aim at some flags, you're getting good breaks, things will kind of keep going your way. They were going our way early. But as far as the last four holes, it's a little disappointing.”

Koepka's great uncle is Dick Groat, the former National League MVP for the 1960 World Series Champion Pirates. Groat, who was a two-time All-American basketball player at Duke, played in the NBA for the Fort Wayne Pistons and is the longtime co-owner of Champion Lakes Golf Club near Ligonier.

Chris Adamski is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at cadamski@tribweb.com or via Twitter @C_AdamskiTrib.