The U.S. Open Championship was recently completed, between June 12-18. The tournament, which has been around since 1895, was held at Erin Hills, located in Erin, Wisconsin.
The Tournament
Brooks Koepka won the tournament, with a 16-under 272. Koepka closed with a 5-under 67, pulling away on the back nine, sinking some incredibly clutch putts – he was tied for the lead with six holes to play. Koepka won by four strokes over Brian Harman and Hideki Matsuyama.
It was the 27-year-old’s first major championship victory. Koepka went on to say, “It feels amazing to get my name on this trophy with so many other great names. It’s truly an honor.” Koepka represents the youth movement emerging in the sport, as he became the seventh straight first-time winner of a major championship.
Koepka was one of 31 players to finish under par, which broke a U.S. Open record. It should be noted though that Erin Hills was the first par-72 course to host the Open since 1992.
A Championship Venue
Erin Hills became the sixth public access course to host the U.S Open Championship, joining Pebble Beach, Pinehurst, Bethpage, Torrey Pines, and Chambers Bay.
The U.S. Open locations are determined ten years in advance, which means the tournament is scheduled out through 2026. But it is a near guarantee that the course will return to Erin Hills when the opportunity presents itself. Golfers in the U.S. Open continually praised the course as a championship venue that was in outstanding condition. The fan experience was also received very highly.
USGA Executive Director Mike Davis described the tournament to Gary D’Amato of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel as “Superb.” He went on to say, “Operationally, I would say I can speak for our ops guys that it was a huge success. Parking and traffic went well. It is such a great site, and one of the beauties is it really is built on well-draining soil. Most places would be just mud after all the rain we got last week. So from a spectator standpoint, it was a very good experience. I actually had people who have been to multiple U.S. Opens tell me it was one of the best they’ve attended. Also, I think Milwaukee and Wisconsin were great hosts. It was a very welcoming atmosphere. So I think we’re very pleased.”
Looking for an Enjoyable Golf Experience?
As a Californian golfer, you may not be able to jump on a plane and go play at Erin Hills. The good news is that there is a beautiful course right in your backyard that offers a fun round and even better experience. Westlake Golf Course, centrally located between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, offers a full 18-hole course, a 40-stall night lighted driving range, pro-shop, snack bar, a friendly fully stocked bar, nine teaching professionals, and a practice putting and chipping green.