Brooks Koepka produced a back-nine birdie blitz to win the US Open, becoming the seventh consecutive first-time winner of a Major with a record-equalling victory at Erin Hills by four strokes.
The 27-year-old from Florida fired a five-under final round 67 to finish on 16 under for the tournament following a tense duel with compatriot Brian Harman that was settled on the home stretch at the rural Wisconsin course.
Koepka’s 16-under total equalled the record for the lowest winning-under-par total at a US Open set by Rory McIlroy at the 2011 championship.
Third round leader Brian Harman, who had led by one-shot at the start of the round, finished second on 12 under after an even-par 72. He tied with Japanese World No. 4 Hideki Matsuyama who shot a six-under 66.
Harman and Koepka spent much of the round locked at the top of the leaderboard.
But the turning point in a gripping war of nerves came just after the turn when Harman struggled through back-to-back bogeys on the 12th and 13th.
World No. 22 Koepka then uncorked a brilliant trio of birdies on the 14th, 15th and 16th holes to surge into a four-shot lead and virtually assure himself of the title.
Koepka’s win extended a remarkable run of victories by players who had never previously won a Major. Since Jason Day lifted the 2015 PGA Championship, every Major championship has been won by a first-timer.
Top final scores: 272: Brooks Koepka (67-70-68-67).
276: Hideki Matsuyama (74-65-71-66), Brian Harman (67-70-67-72).
277: Tommy Fleetwood (67-70-68-67).
278: Xander Schauffele (66-73-70-69), Bill Haas (72-68-69-69), Rickie Fowler (65-73-68-72). 279: Charley Hoffman (70-70-68-71).