Professional golfer Tommy Fleetwood shot the round of his life, and then world No. 9, Brooks Koepka made sure it didn't matter. Koepka successfully defended his U.S. Open title at Shinnecock Hills in 2018, beating Fleetwood by one stroke.

At Shinnecock Hills on June 18, 2018, Fleetwood fired a seven-under 63 in the final round of the U.S. Open, matching the tournament’s lowest final-round score before waiting in the clubhouse at two over par for more than two hours.

Koepka then shot a two-under 68 and won the tournament at one over par. He finished just one shot ahead of Fleetwood, who missed his first major win by a single stroke.

"I always felt like I had a chance," he said. "I was never out of it; I just needed to keep grinding; I knew the conditions would ease up a bit, and I took advantage of it."

Koepka had missed the Masters six weeks earlier due to a wrist injury. He opened his U.S. Open defense with a five-over 75 and fell to seven over through four holes of the second round before battling back with a four-under 66. A third-round 72 left him tied for the lead heading into Sunday.

The course conditions on that Sunday were much easier than on Saturday. The organizers even apologized and said they had made the course too difficult after only three players finished under par in the third round.

He was three under through five holes and added birdies on the 10th and 16th holes to have a two-shot lead. He became the first player since Curtis Strange in 1988 and 1989 to win consecutive U.S. Opens.

Tommy Fleetwood's Brilliant Shot 63 at the U.S. Open Changed Nothing

Fleetwood’s 63 made him one of the few golfers to shoot that score at the U.S. Open, joining Justin Thomas, Vijay Singh, Tom Weiskopf, Johnny Miller, and Jack Nicklaus.

Only Fleetwood and Johnny Miller, in 1973, have shot 63 in the final round of a U.S. Open. Fleetwood even had a chance at 62, but missed an eight-foot birdie putt on the 18th that would have matched Branden Grace’s major championship scoring record.

“A 62 was more on my mind than where I was in the tournament,” Fleetwood said. “It’s special to shoot a 63 at the U.S. Open.”

Fleetwood remained composed while reflecting on the significance of the performance.

"Just getting that close is the ultimate thing that I will take from this," he said. "Hopefully this is just one stage in me winning majors."

Dustin Johnson finished third and Patrick Reed fourth. Fleetwood posted the low round of the day on Sunday. Koepka, though, outlasted him when it mattered most.

Follow Club Golf for more.

Written by

Sneha Abraham

Edited by

Pulkit Prabhav