Back to back years Brooks Koepka won the U.S. Open. Back to back years, Koepka has made heart pounding drives and knee-knocker putts coming down the stretch look all too easy. With his calm demeanor, poise, and confidence, as a viewer you just knew all the others would come up short. Koepka became the 7th player ever to win back to back U.S. Opens.

We watched Dustin Johnson, side by side with Koepka, come up short in the same instances Koepka converted on the green. While Dustin had the putting magic during the first two rounds of the U.S. Open, he lost his way during the final two rounds. Johnson missed key par putts on 11 (4 feet), 14 (7 feet), and ended up 3-putting the par 3 17th hole when birdie was a must. When all was said and done, Johnson had 14 more putts than Koepka over the weekend undoubtedly the difference maker that left Koepka with his name etched in history.

Koepka finished at +1, just one shot ahead of Tommy Fleetwood who tied a U.S. Open record with a final round 63. Fleetwood finished his round a few hours before the eventual champion and was left to contemplate what could’ve been. Fleetwood had a chance at a short birdie putt on the 18th hole that would’ve set history as the best round at a U.S. Open ever. And would have tied him with Koepka at +1.

The 2018 U.S. Open gave the fans a chance to see the best golfers in the world humbled. While the players battled to stay even with par, the fans loved to see these pros challenged to the brink and struggle – as they usually make this game look way too easy. No round proved more of a challenge than Saturday’s, but the victory for Koepka that came on Sunday gave fans even more appreciation for his ability to close. And its always good to know of the internal struggle Koepka faced, despite looking so cool, calm, and collected on the outside.

Koepka said of the final round, “I enjoy being pushed to the limit. Sometimes you feel like you are about to break mentally, but that’s what I enjoy. I enjoy hard golf courses. I enjoy playing about the toughest in golf you are ever going to play.”

And that attitude folks, is the reason why Koepka repeats as champion. No test is harder in golf than the U.S. Open, and Koepka’s ability to embrace the challenge, think his was way through the course with confidence, is what separated him. Brooks Koepka is a mental giant. And an ever-growing giant in professional golf for years to come.