Chance for three-peat alive as Brooks Koepka lurks at Pebble Beach

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. – Brooks Koepka’s quest to be the first player to win three consecutive U.S. Open’s since Willie Anderson over a century ago is alive and well.

The PGA TOUR Player of the Year shot a 3-under 68 on Saturday at Pebble Beach to move to 7-under for the championship. It puts the four-time major winner into a tie for third place, four shots back of leader Gary Woodland.

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Not since Anderson in 1903-1905 has anyone won America’s national championship three years in a row. But Koepka has made a habit of greatness in big events lately.

Koepka claimed the PGA Championship last month, his fourth major in his last eight major starts. Should he claim a fifth in nine starts on Sunday, he will be the first to do so since Tiger Woods won six majors in nine major starts between the 2000 and 2002 U.S. Opens.

“I feel good. I feel like if I can just make a few putts, I feel like I could be right there, right next to Gary. And it's been very close. I'm pleased how I'm playing. I'm pleased how I'm striking the ball,” Koepka said. “And I feel as confident as ever right now. It's probably the best ball-striking week I've had… to hit as many greens as I have the last two days, the ball-striking is right where I want it. I feel like eventually these birdies have to come. I've hit so many good putts that just haven't gone in.”

Koepka has indeed hit the ball well. He leads the field in Greens in Regulation (76 percent) and Strokes Gained: Approach (+6.97). While he believes that will continue to be an asset on Sunday, his biggest weapon will be his calm demeanor and experience in the hot seat. Woodland is yet to win a major, and while 2013 U.S. Open champion Justin Rose is also three clear of Koepka, the American likes his chances.

“(My strength is) just having been in the position I'm in. Feels like almost every major right now. Second at Augusta. I felt like I've put myself in good chances where I'm very comfortable around that,” he adds.

While the first seven holes at Pebble have been the place to grab the birdies this week, Koepka says he won’t target them specifically in his chase to victory. Inside that stretch are the three easiest of the week – the par-5 6th, the par-4 4th and the iconic par-3 7th. The par-4 1st (13th hardest) and par-4 3rd (11th) have also been picked apart. In his four previous major wins, Koepka has led by seven, led by one, been tied for the lead and been one behind after 54 holes. He's never come from this far back before.

“I don't need to go out and chase. I don't need to do much. Just kind of let it come to you,” Koepka claimed.

“But it would be nice to get off to a good start, be 3-under through 7, somewhere around there, take advantage of those opening holes. And you never know what's going to happen.

“(I’ll be) trying to be three back going into the back nine, you never know from there, see what happens. Make a couple of birdies, put some pressure on guys. “And from there, if I win, great; if not, I felt I've given it all I had this week and it's just not my week.”