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PGA Championship 2019: Dustin Johnson birdied Bethpage Black’s toughest hole 4 days in a row

May 19, 2019

Though many viewed today’s final round as a coronation for Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, two groups behind, went on a birdie run that made things interesting late on Sunday afternoon at the PGA Championship.

DJ birdied the 4th, 6th, 9th and 15th holes at Bethpage Black to get to three under through 15 holes, while Kopeka went backward, bogeying four holes in a row to drop to two over par on the day.

By the time Kopeka arrived at the 14th tee, his lead had diminished to two shots, rather than the seven he started with.

Perhaps most remarkable for Johnson is the fact that he birdied Bethpage Black’s toughest hole, No. 15, during each of his four rounds this week.

The fearsome 15th is a 484-yard par-4. On Sunday, DJ hit his drive 364 yards, leaving himself 112 yards to the green. He then drained an 11-foot putt for birdie. That birdie marks his fourth on the hole this week. He’s the only player in the field to card a birdie on that hole during all four rounds.

No. 15 is the toughest hole at Bethpage this week.
No. 15 is the toughest hole at Bethpage this week.

No. 15 has yielded only 38 birdies so far this week. The bogey count is significantly higher: a whopping 169.

Will Johnson’s play on the 15th be the secret to the most epic comeback in PGA Championship history? We’ll find out soon.

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