Brooks Koepka shaping up nicely for US Open defence

Brooks Koepka might have been out for four months but he showed ominous signs of form when he made an albatross two en route to a course record-equalling 63 in The Players.

Having returned to action at the Wells Fargo Championship just a week earlier, the American lipped out from 14 feet at the 18th for a 62 having made six birdies and just the second albatross in the history on the par-5 16th hole to scorch to 11-under par.

It wasn’t enough to win the event but with just four weeks to go before his US Open defence at Shinnecock Hills, it was enough to put a smile on the face of the Floridian and his Irish caddie, Ricky Elliot, after a long lay off with a wrist injury.