Curtis Strange on Brooks Koepka’s Back-to-Back U.S. Open Championship Victories

Southampton, NY – For the past 29 years, FOX Sports golf analyst Curtis Strange has been the last man to win back-to-back U.S. Open Championships, claiming the trophy in 1988 and 1989. On Sunday, Brooks Koepka became the seventh man in history to do the same – winning the 2018 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, one year after his victory at the 2017 U.S. Open at Erin Hills.

Strange had a front row seat to all the action as an on-course reporter for FOX Sports, following Koepka and 2016 U.S. Open champion Dustin Johnson on Sunday afternoon. Just like in 2017, Strange was on-hand to present the trophy to Koepka and get his first reaction to the historic accomplishment.

"I don't think I could have dreamed of this, going back to back."@BKoepka speaks to our very own back-to-back #USOpen champion @StrangeGolf after claiming the 118th U.S. Open pic.twitter.com/cWndFdmuOd

— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 17, 2018

Following the trophy ceremony, Strange reflected on the experience and welcomed Koepka to the exclusive club of back-to-back U.S. Open champions.

Strange on his experience as an on-course reporter during the final round:
“I was lucky to be out there and to be a part of it. It was fun for me to watch somebody play so well and do something so special, because so many of the greats haven’t done that. I had a front row seat and I thought it was fantastic.”

On Koepka’s achievement:
“I know what it means to me and I know what it means to him… They haven’t taken anything away from me. He just joined the six of us. Now there’s seven of us… I take my hat off to him. Now get three in a row!”

On comparisons between himself and Koepka:
“He’s got more talent in his little finger than a lot of us ever had. He’s just talented… He’s going to be around for a long time. He’s young. He’s a jock. He’s your linebacker. I want him on my team.”

On what it takes to win back-to-back U.S. Opens today:
“The golf game has changed. This is no longer about point A to point B. He’s a big strong hitter, not as long as Dustin Johnson and some of the others, but he’s strong out of the rough…. He hit a couple shots out of the rough and it was nothing but strength… Strength shows its face in so many different ways on the golf course. It’s not just about length, it’s about the rough, playing in tough conditions, playing in the wind, playing in the rain.”