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PGA Championship 2019: Here are all the records Brooks Koepka can break this weekend

May 18, 2019

Brooks Koepka’s record-setting opening rounds at Bethpage Black have set a blistering pace at the 2019 PGA Championship. Not only did he set a new course record with a seven-under-par 63 on Thursday, he also set a new 36-hole scoring record — by two shots — with a second round of 65, bringing his two-day total to 128.

Even if Koepka loses a smidge of momentum on Saturday and Sunday, with a seven-shot lead heading into the weekend, there are many other PGA Championship records that he could claim over the next two rounds. Here’s a breakdown:

BEST 72-HOLE SCORE
The record of 264 (16 under) was set by Koepka last year. He’s already 12 under through two rounds. It’s easy to see him getting to 17 under over the final 36 holes.

BEST 72-HOLE SCORE (TO PAR)
Jason Day set this record in 2015 (268, 20 under par). It will take two more very solid rounds, but Koepka could do it.

BEST SCORE, FIRST 54 HOLES
This one should drop on Saturday afternoon, right? The current record is 196 (14 under), set by David Toms in 2001.

BEST SCORE, LAST 54 HOLES
This record will be more of a challenge, since he’ll need to go 11 under par over the next two rounds to break it. The good news? The current record of 195 (15 under) was set by … Koepka (!) in 2018.

The records that could be broken this weekend include benchmarks set by Tiger Woods.
The records that could be broken this weekend include benchmarks set by Tiger Woods.
Getty Images

LARGEST 54-HOLE LEAD
This one seems very gettable. Kopeka’s lead is already seven shots. If he can just maintain that margin, he’ll break the current record of 5 shots, which was set by Raymond Floyd back in 1969.

BEST SCORE, LAST 36 HOLES
The record of 130 (10 under) was set by Tiger Woods in 2018, when he finished second to Koepka.

BEST THIRD-ROUND SCORE
Jose Maria Olazabal shot 63 (9 under) in 2000. I know this one is asking a lot, but hey, Kopeka left a few out there when he shot his 63 on Thursday, right? Anything can happen.

BEST FOURTH-ROUND SCORE
The current mark of 63 (8 under) set by Brad Faxon in 1995 will be a tough one to beat. But it’s still possible.

LARGEST WINNING MARGIN
This one seems like a slam dunk, if things continue trending in their current direction. The mark to beat is eight shots, which was set by Rory McIlroy in 2012.

LOWEST THIRD-ROUND SCORE BY WINNER
Bob Tway shot 64 (7 under) in 1986.

LOWEST FINAL-ROUND SCORE BY WINNER
Steve Elkington shot 64 (7 under) in 1995.

LOWEST SCORING AVERAGE (MINIMUM OF 20 ROUNDS)
The record of 69.17 is currently held by Brooks Koepka, with 24 rounds. Seems like a good chance that number could shrink after this year’s tournament.

WIRE-TO-WIRE: SOLO LEADERS AFTER ALL FOUR ROUNDS
Brooks could become only the fifth player in history to add his name to the above list, joining Bobby Nichols (1964), Jack Nicklaus (1971), Raymond Floyd (1982) and Hal Sutton in (1983). Fine company, indeed.

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