Brooks Koepka takes his spot atop the golfing world
Brooks Koepka takes over the No. 1 spot in the Official World Golf Rankings with a dominating four-shot victory at The CJ Cup in Korea.
Considering all the countries Brooks Koepka’s golf career has taken him, it’s natural he should be crowned the best player in the world far from home.
The 28-year-old Koepka eagled the 72nd hole on Sunday to win The CJ Cup on Jeju Island in Korea, four shots ahead of runner-up Gary Woodland. With the win, the fifth of his PGA Tour career, Koepka takes over the No. 1 spot in the Official World Golf Rankings for the first time.
Koepka took an unconventional path to the top of the golfing world. After graduating from Florida State, he began his pro career playing in Europe. His first start as a professional came in Switzerland. Along the way he won tournaments in Spain, Italy and Scotland. His first European Tour win was in Turkey. Now he ascends to No. 1 in the world with a win in Korea.
The fact that his globe-trotting career was capped off this week in Korea isn’t lost on Koepka. “We saw a stat yesterday where it was, I’ve cracked the top 1,000, 500, 400, 300, and so on and so on. And I only cracked…I think the top 10 in the United States,” he said after his round on Sunday.
“Everywhere else has been in a different country. And it’s probably fitting that I did it in Korea.”
There was a time on Sunday when the tournament seemed to be slipping from his grasp. Despite coming into the final round with a four shot lead, Koepka managed only one-under on his front-nine. Meanwhile, Woodland began his round with six-under 30 on his opening nine. Suddenly Koepka’s advantage was gone.
Proving he isn’t daunted by a little adversity, however, Koepka rebounded on the back-nine. He birdied the 10th, 12th, 13th and 15th to retake the lead. Then, at the par-four 16th, faced with a difficult 25-yard shot from the greenside rough, Koepka’s chip raced towards the hole, hit the flag and dropped in for an unlikely birdie. Any hope Woodland had was lost.
“I knew it was good when I hit it,” Koepka said about his chip shot. “I just didn’t know it was going to be in. For that to drop definitely felt like I had won the tournament right then and there.”
Coming to the par-five 18th with a two-shot lead, his 20-foot eagle putt was just a formality. Koepka finished at 21-under, playing his last nine holes in 29 for an eight-under round of 64.
Koepka is coming off a year that saw its fair share of highs and lows. He missed the first four months of the season, including the Masters, with a wrist injury. He returned to the PGA Tour in April and successfully defended his U.S. Open title at Shinnecock Hills. Then, in August, he outlasted Tiger Woods in the final round of the PGA Championship at Bellerive to win his third career major. His two major titles allowed him to take home PGA Player of the Year honors.
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His 2018-19 season begins the same way his last one ended. Koepka has now won three times in his last 11 starts on the PGA Tour. He plays next week at the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai, his first tournament as World No. 1. The pressure that comes with that is one he feels he’s ready for.
“Coming out the first week as No. 1, I’d like to really play well and really kind of focus in and make sure my game’s in a good place,” he said.
With the powerful drives and strong putting that was on full display this week in Korea, Koepka’s reign at the top may last a while. He’s confident it will, at least.