PGA Championship 2023 LIVE leaderboard: Latest updates as Brooks Koepka wins fifth major
Koepka responded to the disappointment of his Masters collapse last month to claim his fifth major championship at Oak Hill
Brooks Koepka held off the challenge of Viktor Hovland and the surging Scottie Scheffler to win his third US PGA Championship title and fifth major.
Koepka, who felt he had "choked" when holding the 54-hole lead at the Masters last month, kept his cool to shoot a final-round 66 at Oak Hill Country Club.
Hovland kept the pressure on and reduced Koepka’s lead to one with five holes to play - but the Norwegian’s chances evaporated with a double bogey at the 16th.
Scheffler’s fine 65 saw the American get to within two of Koepka, who held on to win his first major since his last PGA Championship in 2019.
The highlight of the day came from club professional Michael Block, the 46-year-old making a hole-in-one on the 15th as he played the final round alongside Rory McIlroy, who finished in a tie for seventh place.
Follow all the reaction and latest updates from Oak Hill below:
Chez Reavie chips in
Reavie +2 (5)
I can’t say I’ve seen much of the American so far this week but with the bunched nature of this course, plenty of players can shoot up the leaderboard in these calmer fourth-round conditions. With the birdie, he moves to +2 and is three under already for his rounds.
Back on the second, Cam Smith makes birdie after a fine iron into the green and he moves to three over par.
Rose and Scheffler still in with a shout
Rose (-2), Scheffler (-2) - 7:10pm BST
Heading out after McIlroy and Block are Justin Rose and Scottie Scheffler, both poised and looking to upset the odds at two under par.
Rose has struggled to find the fairway with great consistency this week but an awesome performance with the putter yesterday saw him shoot a one-under-par 69. He’s as experienced as they come to major championship final rounds but will need another fine putting display to usurp those ahead of him.
One person who definitely could do with Rose’s putting expertise is Scheffler who has struggled to make anything of note over these last three days. He was three over par yesterday after starting the third round in a tie for the lead but without a marked improvement on the greens, it’s hard to see the world number two challenging the leader.
Plenty of early birdies
Matt NeSmith and Keegan Bradley make birdies at the first to move into the top 20. That hole is proving fruitful early on - could be one to watch out for as the contenders look to make an early move on Koepka.
Can McIlroy upset the odds?
McIlroy (-1), Block (E) - 7:00pm BST
Five shots back could be too much of an ask but you can be sure Rory McIlroy is going to give it everything he’s got to make a move up the leaderboard. It’s fair to say the Northern Irishman has not been at his best over the past three days but he’s battled himself into outside contention in less-than-ideal circumstances.
Last year’s winner Justin Thomas came from way back and Rory will be hoping to do the same today.
He’ll be teeing it up alongside club pro Michael Block who has become one of the stories of the week. The Californian, who teaches golf full-time, has carded three successive rounds of 70 to sit at even par. No club pro has finished in the top ten for 50 years but with another solid round Block could break that historic record.
Out on the course
Before we start taking a look at the contenders coming out later in the afternoon, a quick look at what is going on out on the course from the early starters.
The first thing to note - it is dry. There’s some breeze and that could pick up during the day but it looks like a day for scoring.
World number one Jon Rahm is two under par so far today, as is Xander Schauffele and Jordan Spieth. Adam Scott is currently producing the round of the day so far, with the Aussie three under par after eight holes.
Brooks Koepka hopes to emulate Tiger Woods and win third PGA Championship title
Brooks Koepka admits it would be “pretty special” to emulate Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus by claiming a third US PGA Championship title.
Koepka will take a one-shot lead over Corey Conners and Viktor Hovland into the final round at Oak Hill, six weeks after enjoying double that advantage following 54 holes of the Masters.
The four-time major winner carded a closing 75 at Augusta National to finish second to Jon Rahm, but looks primed to claim his first major since the 2019 US PGA at Bethpage.
Brooks Koepka hopes to emulate Tiger Woods and win third PGA Championship title
Brooks Koepka will take a one-shot lead over Corey Conners and Viktor Hovland into the final round at Oak Hill.
As things stand
Here’s how things look ahead of today’s final round:
-6: Koepka
-5: Conners, Hovland
-3: DeChambeau
-2: Scheffler, Rose
-1: McIlroy
E: Block, Suh
+1: Lowry, Fleetwood, Jaeger, Perez, Cole, Lee
Welcome back
Good afternoon and welcome back to The Independent’s coverage of the US PGA Championship.
Today’s final round is set up for an intriguing and hopefully exciting day of golfing action. LIV Golf’s Brooks Koepka leads the way after a barnstorming round of 66 on a very wet Saturday outing. He’s in line to win a third PGA Championship but faces stiff competition from the chasing pack.
Viktor Hovland and Corey Conners are the main challenges with both at five-under though Bryson DeChambeau (-3), Justin Rose (-2) and Scottie Scheffler (-2) cannot be discounted.
Rory McIlroy has not looked his best this week but rounds of 71, 69 and 69 have placed the Northern Irishman at one under par and a low round at Oak Hill this afternoon would him the chance to claim another major title.
He’s partnered alongside club pro Michael Block this afternoon after the 46-year-old Californian fired his third successive round of 70 to remain at level par for the tournament.
Who will triumph at Oak Hill? Follow along for the latest updates from the final round of the 2023 US PGA Championship.
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