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| - Brooks Koepka looks ready to make another run at history after shooting a four-under-par 66 in the opening round of the PGA Championship on Thursday. The 30-year-old American is trying to become just the second ever and first in almost 100 years to win three straight PGA Championships. The four-time major winner won the 2018 PGA Championship and successfully defended his title last year at Bethpage Black. He also has back-to-back US Open titles and fell just short of winning a third straight, finishing second last year to Gary Woodland at Pebble Beach. "I wasn't able to do it at the US Open," Koepka said. "That drove me nuts a little bit. I played good golf, but I just got beat by Gary. "To do it here, it would be special. I think there's, what, six guys that have ever won three in a row. Not a bad list to be on." Koepka's 66 at TPC Harding Park on Thursday left him firmly in the mix at what is the first major championship to be held in more than a year because of the global pandemic. It also provided further evidence that Koepka tends to thrive in the pressurised environment of major championships. "The majors almost seem like an easier week for me," Koepka said. "I do nine holes pretty much every day of practice rounds and try to stay off my feet and not do too much. "I think sometimes guys can not overprepare, but just practice a little too much. "If you're going to be here until Sunday it's mentally draining. Physically it's fine, but mentally I'm done after four days of this." Dating to the summer of 2015, Koepka has been the game's most dominant force on its biggest stages. In 12 major appearances starting with the 2016 PGA at Baltusrol, Koepka has won four times -- to go along with five other finishes of tied six or better. Playing in a group with Woodland and Shane Lowry, Koepka made four birdies in the final six holes of his front nine. "I put the ball in the fairway, hit some greens and made putts. You just try to break it down. It is pretty simple and I did a good job of that today," he said. Starting on No. 10 he made bogey on the par-three 11th. But he rebounded quickly by making back-to-back birdies on holes 13 and 14. He also birdied the picturesque par-four No. 18. On 13, Koepka hit a 175-yard approach shot to six feet and then hit another 165-yard approach to just three feet on the next hole. He drained a nine foot putt on 16 for another birdie. The biggest cause for concern is Koepka's balky left knee. He says he has tinkered with his stance with his swing coach and is now feeling less stress on the knee. "It's nice to feel comfortable over the ball," he said. gph/rcw
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