US PGA Championship – The debrief 

Here is everything you need to know from a compelling 105th US PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club.

Hovland positive Major breakthrough just around the corner

Up until he was forced to take a drop after his second shot from a fairway bunker at the 16th finished in the lip, Viktor Hovland had been going toe-to-toe with Brooks Koepka as he sought to claim his first Major. But the double bogey that transpired ultimately ended his hopes as he finished in a share of second place alongside Scottie Scheffler. Despite the heartbreak of missing out, the Norwegian can take comfort that his record at Majors continues to improve. Since missing the cut at last year’s U.S. Open, he has finished in a tie for fourth at The Open Championship, a share of seventh at last month’s Masters and now a career-best runner-up at Oak Hill. The result has lifted him to sixth on the Official World Golf Ranking and he will hope he can go one step better in the 123rd U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club next month. "It sucks right now, but it is really cool to see that things are going the right direction," he said. "If I just keep taking care of my business and just keep working on what I've been doing, I think we're going to get one of these soon."

Koepka claims third US PGA title and fifth Major

Koepka became the 20th male golfer to win five Majors as he claimed his third US PGA Championship with a two-shot victory over Viktor Hovland and Scheffler. In lifting the Wanamaker Trophy for a third time, the American becomes the sixth player to win the championship on three or more occasions - joining Walter Hagen and Jack Nicklaus (five), Tiger Woods (four), Gene Sarazen and Sam Snead (three).

Storybook week for club pro Block

The power of sport to create life-changing moments was in full evidence at the second men’s Major Championship as Michael Block went from an unknown to a cult hero in a matter of days. After already capturing the imagination of the on-site spectators in New York state as the club professional from Southern California held his own against the world’s best over the opening three days, Sunday’s final round ensured his name will not be forgotten quickly. Playing alongside Rory McIlroy, American Block produced a perfect tee shot at the par-three 15th to record the only hole-in-one of the tournament. After he was greeted by a high-five from a laughing McIlroy, Block could be heard saying: “No, no. No way. Rory, did it go in?”

But there was still another highlight-reel moment to come as he produced a remarkable up and down from thick rough well left of the 18th green to save par. That saw him finish at one over to secure a $288,000 prize and a top 15 finish which guarantees himself a place in next year’s US PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club. The 46-year-old, who was making his fifth appearance at the event, was one of 20 club professionals at the championship, but the only one to make the cut. His efforts at Oak Hill have earned him a sponsor’s exemption to play at this week’s Charles Schwab Challenge on the PGA TOUR with a similar invite also extended to him to feature at next month’s RBC Canadian Open.

European Ryder Cup contenders impress

At the conclusion of Sunday’s final round, there were eight European players in the top 20 of the leaderboard. Away from Hovland’s latest fine Major performance, the Norwegian was joined by Rory McIlroy, Sepp Straka, Justin Rose, Victor Perez, Shane Lowry, Tyrrell Hatton and Tommy Fleetwood. Hero Cup player Straka and fellow Continental Europe team member Victor Perez both got off to fast starts on Sunday, making seven birdies between them over the first five holes. Austrian Straka went on to shoot a 65 and match the low round of the week to finish in a tie for seventh alongside McIlroy. Rose was a shot further back after a closing 71 saw him finish in the top ten, with Perez and Lowry ending the week at even par. After a testing start to his championship and only just making the cut on the number, Tyrrell Hatton recovered to close out the week with a 67 and finish in a tie for 15th at one over, one shot better off than Fleetwood. Plenty of encouraging signs for European Ryder Cup Captain Luke Donald as the biennial match play event draws ever nearer.

Family pride for the Højgaards

Last week saw Nicolai and Rasmus Højgaard contest the same Major Championship for the first time in their careers. Watching them both was a proud father, Ole, who couldn’t his pride at their latest achievement. It was Nicolai who claimed the family bragging rights as five birdies on a blemish-free back nine in the second round saw him to three over par and safely inside the cut line as Rasmus followed up an opening 75 with a 74 to miss out on the weekend’s action. Rounds of 73 and 71 over the final two days saw Nicolai finish up in a tie for 50th place.

Oak Hill proves stern challenge

In advance of the tournament getting under way on Thursday, many of the world’s best had spoken about the challenge awaiting them at Oak Hill. Since last hosting the US PGA Championship, the East Course had undergone a major revamp, with Robert MacIntyre describing it as an “absolute monster” and the toughest course he had ever played. At the end of the first round, which concluded on Friday after frost delayed the start of the championship, only 16 players were under par as the narrow fairways and thick rough proved too stern an examination for many in the field. By the midway point, five under was leading with just nine in red figures. One hole in particular stood out as a particularly daunting challenge, with Scheffler describing the 503-yard par four sixth as the hardest hole he’d ever faced. Across the four days, 52 double bogeys or worse were made with by comparison just 30 birdies recorded. Wet weather on Saturday brought another layer of difficulty to the course for those who had made the cut, before the sun returned on Sunday to provide better conditions for low scoring. Despite that, just 11 players finished under par as the toughness of Oak Hill lived up to its pre-tournament billing.