Page 21 - Sports Illustrated Kids (October 2018)
P. 21
EYES ON THE PRIZE
Koepka’s focus has been a look back at
unflappable. With the entire 2018 on the links
golf world rooting for Woods to
make a comeback at the From fantastic firsts to spectacular seconds to compelling
PGA Championship, Koepka stayed comebacks, this season has included its share of drama.
on track. “There’s more stuff going
on inside him than you think,” Here are three stories that dominated the headlines.
Elliott said after the victory. “But
he’s able to siphon out everything he
doesn’t need and put his energies FRANCISCO MOLINARI
toward what he does.” ON A ROLL
That’s helped Koepka this year. He won his first PGA Tour event,
Of the four 2018 majors, he was the Quicken Loans National, on
only healthy for the final three. (He July 1. Three weeks later, the
tied for 39th, shooting two over par, 35-year-old won the British Open
by two strokes, becoming the first
at the British Open in July.) It hasn’t
player from Italy to ever claim a
been that long since he was
men’s major golf championship.
watching the Masters from his “Unthinkable,” Molinari said of
couch in April, sidelined with a playing the final two rounds of
wrist injury. Even as Koepka the Open without a single bogey.
questioned his future in the sport
this spring, he was the defending
U.S. Open champion, a golfer with ARIYA JUTANUGARN
the sense that he should be able to
accomplish so much more. WINS SECOND MAJOR
The 2016 Rolex Player of the Year
And he has. Koepka seemed
and LPGA Tour money leader won
surprised when informed that his
her second major, the U.S. Women’s
72-hole score (264) had been the
Open, in June. Through the end of
lowest in PGA Championship August, the 22-year-old had three
history. And when he was asked victories this season and was
about the legacy he’s building— second in the Women’s World Golf
three majors at age 28 puts a man Rankings. Jutanugarn, who is from
SIMON BRUTY (MOLINARI); TOM DULAT/R&A/GETTY IMAGES (JUTANUGARN); DAVID E. KLUTHO (WOODS)
on a certain pedestal—he admitted Thailand, also led the ’18 official
he hadn’t yet considered the money list by nearly $1 million.
gravitas of the feat.
“Three majors at 28, it’s a cool
feeling,” Koepka said. “It really is. TIGER WOODS
You know, hopefully I can stay IS FINALLY BACK
healthy. I’ve kind of had some
He missed the 2016 season and
trouble with that the past two years, underwent his fourth back surgery
three years. I’m excited for the next in April ’17. Woods then played
few years. As a fan of golf, you just his third PGA Tour event in
should be excited. Tiger’s come 28 months last December, tying for
back, what Dustin’s doing, Justin ninth. Since then, the 14-time major
[Thomas], Rory, Spieth. It’s a great champion has finished in the top 10
time to be a golf fan.” five times, including tying for sixth
at the British Open and coming in
It’s a great time to be Brooks
second at the PGA Championship.
Koepka, too.
—Stephanie Apstein and
Joan Niesen
SIKIDS.COM / 21
