BROOKS KOEPKA joined Hubert Green on Sunday as the only two Florida State golfers to win the U.S. Open.

Koepka, 27, closed with a 5-under 67 at Erin Hills in Wisconsin to win the U.S. Open for his first major championship

Just when it appeared the size of the moment might be getting to Koepka, he pulled out a 3-wood, gripped it and ripped it.

His ball sailed toward the green at the par-5 14th, and though it landed just short in the greenside bunker, it showed that Koepka wasn’t just trying to hang on to win the 117th U.S. Open. He was going to grab this tournament by the throat.

Koepka pitched out, drained the birdie, then carded another at the 15th, and the victory march was on.

In a matter of about 10 minutes, the U.S. Open went from being a four-horse slog to the finish to a rout. There would be no dramatic ending, no Monday playoff. Koepka made sure of that on 16 with yet another birdie, capping a three-hole stretch that will forever be etched in his memory as his greatest ever.

The fact that Koepka was 16-under par, with a chance to tie or best Rory McIlroy for the lowest total ever in a U.S. Open, mattered only in that he could ink his name on an all-time record. The more important number at that point was four, the number of strokes between Koepka and second place. By 17, with his ball safely on the green in two shots and the finish line in sight, Koepka received his first standing ovation from the crowd around the green.

(SD-Agencies)