Brooks Koepka wins THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES
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NORTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 01: Brooks Koepka of the United States plays his shot from the 16th tee during round two of the Dell Technologies Championship at TPC Boston on September 1, 2018 in Norton, Massachusetts. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
Reigning PGA TOUR Player of Year closes strong during final round in South Korea
Written by The Associated Press
Brooks Koepka holes out for birdie on No. 16 at THE CJ CUP
JEJU ISLAND, South Korea (AP) -- Brooks Koepka won THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES on Sunday by four strokes.
Koepka, the reigning PGA TOUR Player of the Year, shot a final-round 8-under 64 for a 21-under total of 267. Koepka led by four strokes after three rounds.
"Everything I've done this year it's been working. So I don't want to change anything," Koepka said. "Just keep improving. "I'm so excited right now, you have no idea. I can't wait to go play again."
Gary Woodland certainly made it interesting. Woodland started the day five strokes behind Koepka but pulled level after making six birdies in seven holes on the front nine.
The two dueled on the back nine, with Woodland birdieing Nos. 15 and 16 to again pull level. But Koepka did the same, and a bogey by Woodland on the par-3 17th gave Koepka the cushion he needed to close out the win despite a birdie on the 18th by Woodland.
The biggest moment came on the 16th. Koepka went from a fairway bunker to just left of the green, about 70 feet away. Koepka hit a chip-and-run that was stopped by the pin and dropped for the birdie.
Koepa finished with a 25-foot eagle putt for a 29 on the back nine.
"I'm not somebody who's going to panic if things go the wrong way," Koepka said of his slow start. "I felt like the one at 15 was quite big with Gary making a charge."
Woodland finished second after a 63. Ryan Palmer birdied his last seven holes to shoot 62 and finish in a tie for third place with Rafa Cabrera Bello (65), four strokes behind Koepka.
Defending champion Justin Thomas finished at 5-under after a 68 Sunday.
It was Koepka's 12th victory worldwide, including four wins on the European Challenge Tour. He now has won in seven countries - the U.S., South Korea, Spain, Italy, Japan, Turkey and Scotland.
The PGA TOUR heads to Shanghai next week for the final stop on its Asian swing, the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions.