ST. LOUIS — The two most recent major championship winners are in the hunt for a second major entering the weekend at the PGA Championship.
U.S. Open winner Brooks Koepka scorched Bellerive Country Club with a 7-under 63 Friday to get to 8-under for the tournament, two shots behind early leader Gary Woodland, who finished at 10-under before play was suspended due to inclement weather.
British Open winner Francesco Molinari shot a 67 to get to 5-under, five shots back.
“It would be special,” Koepka said. “Any time you can win two majors in a year, that’s pretty unique, pretty special — especially where I started the season, missing the Masters [because of a hand and wrist injury].”
Koepka, who was in contention at the British Open as well, has become a regular on major championship leaderboards. He attributes his strong play in majors to “more attention to detail.”
“I’m more mentally focused [on] every shot,” he said. “You drop a shot or two [in a major], you really put yourself back. There’s a lot more focus that I have in the majors. Everyone on my team even says I act a little different, the way I approach it. It’s very down to a routine this week and other weeks sometimes. It’s much more disciplined — eating right, going to the gym. It’s almost timed perfectly. I’m just very in the zone, very disciplined.”
Molinari said he feels “similar” after two rounds this week to how he felt three weeks ago at Carnoustie entering the weekend.
“Hopefully, the weekend will be similar as well,” he said.


