CROMWELL, Conn. — The plan was simple.
Twelve shots behind leader Paul Casey going into the final round, Brooks Koepka was going to fire at every pin and take his chances.
The two-time U.S. Open champion moved up the leaderboard Sunday with a closing 5-under-par 65 to finish at 9-under for the tournament and tied for 19th.
“I feel good,” Koepka said. “It was nice to come out and play an event right after you win.
“Last year I took a month off, touched a club once, and then came out to the British, so it’s nice to have some extra reps going into the British.”
Koepka has nothing on his schedule related to golf leading up to next month’s Open in Carnoustie. He came back from a four-week break following last year’s U.S. Open victory to tie for sixth at Royal Birkdale.
“I’m shutting it down for a while, I don’t feel like I need to play,” he said. “My game is in a good spot. I played really well this week, just some stupid mistakes. Mental errors, that’s all it was, lack of focus and low energy.
“To be honest with you, I’m not surprised.”
Koepka’s seven-birdie, two-bogey final round was his best 18-hole performance of the week at TPC River Highlands.
The highlight of the round was a five-birdie stretch over six holes, which began on the par-5 sixth hole and went to the par-3 11th. The seventh hole was the one par in the mix.
“I like this golf course because I feel it rewards you for good play,” Koepka said.
During the break, Koepka will visit friends in Boston, briefly head home to Florida and then take part in his best friend’s bachelor party.
“I was really hoping to get some rest, but I don’t know how much that will happen,” he said, smiling.
Since returning from a wrist injury that kept him out for three months, Koepka has the one victory at Shinnecock Hills, a second place at the Fort Worth Invitational and tie for 11th at The Players Championship in seven events.
Travelers defending champion Jordan Spieth went 1-under on the final day and finished at 4-under overall. Spieth shared the lead after the first round at 7-under but struggled the rest of the week.
“I got a pretty good gauge on where my own game’s at,” he said. “I did a pretty good job after the first round me standing here and telling you that was kind of disguised, but progress was made.
“I’m not talking myself down by any means, I just know when it feels good and when it feels a little bit off.”
Spieth will be in Seattle for the Special Olympics next week but did not rule out playing prior to the Open.
“There’s potential for that,” he said. “I believe I can get the work in whether I’m playing or not (in a tournament).”
