Brooks Koepka earns No. 1 ranking with PGA win in S. Korea

By Yoo Jee-ho

SEOGWIPO, South Korea, Oct. 21 (Yonhap) -- Brooks Koepka locked down the No. 1 spot in the men's world golf rankings with his first PGA Tour win of the season in South Korea on Sunday, aided by a thrilling chip-in birdie down the stretch.

Koepka, the 2017-2018 PGA Tour Player of the Year, captured the CJ Cup @ Nine Bridges with a four-round total of 21-under 267, four strokes ahead of Gary Woodland, whose furious charge ultimately fell just short.

Koepka shot a final round of eight-under 64 at the Club at Nine Bridges on the resort island of Jeju, putting on an awe-inspiring ball-striking display for his fifth career PGA Tour win.

The tournament, the only PGA event held in South Korea, opened in chilly and blustery conditions on Thursday. And no one benefitted more from the milder and more benign conditions that followed over the next three rounds than Koepka, who shot 65-67-64 in his final three rounds.

When the new rankings are officially announced Monday, Koepka will jump from No. 3 to No. 1 and dethrone compatriot Dustin Johnson, who didn't play at the CJ Cup. No. 2 Justin Rose was also absent.

Koepka entered the final round with a four-stroke lead over the field. And the victory was far closer than the final score indicated. Koepka was nursing a one-stroke lead over Gary Woodland at 18-under when he was preparing for a third shot from the rough off the green at the par-4 16th.

Just when it appeared he'd be lucky to save par, Koepka hit a crisp chip shot and rolled it in for an improbable birdie, which took him to 19-under.

Moments later, Woodland, playing two groups ahead, bogeyed the par-3 17th to fall to 16-under.

Koepka capped off his title with an eagle at the 18th.

jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)