World No 1 Koepka warns he can ‘get even better’
Brooks Koepka has won half of this year’s majors and is golf’s newly anointed world No 1, but the red-hot American insists he can get even better as he leads an elite field into this week’s WGC-HSBC Champions.
The 2018 US PGA Tour Player of the Year is the man to beat in Shanghai after he coolly shot a final-round 64 to clinch victory in the CJ Cup in South Korea last week and ascend to golf’s top ranking for the first time.
“The way I’m playing right now, I feel like I can win anywhere,” said Koepka -- a joint runner-up in Shanghai last year -- ahead of the $10 million event which begins on Thursday.
“I don’t feel like I’ve peaked at all. I feel like I can get a lot better. You can always improve.
“With maturity, coming out on the golf course you learn new things about yourself every day.”
The 28-year-old said he feels “no pressure” after rising to the top ranking.
Chasing him is the usual who’s who of star names drawn annually to Sheshan International Golf Club for the tournament dubbed “Asia’s major” which carries a winner’s purse of $1.8 million.
World No 2 Dustin Johnson, reigning US Masters champion Patrick Reed, four-time major winner Rory McIlroy and last year’s tournament victor and world number three Justin Rose are in a field that boasts 19 of the world’s top 30.
Also on hand is the “MoliWood” duo of Francesco Molinari and Tommy Fleetwood, who provided the spark for Europe’s dominating Ryder Cup win.
SHANGHAI:
Among the past winners of the Panasonic Open, Chiragh Kumar has one of the strongest records. Chiragh, who won in 2015 during a standout season on the Asian Tour, has never finished beyond T15 in the past four editions. Couple this with his knowledge of the Delhi Golf Club – this is where he learnt his golf – and the 34-year-old couldn’t have asked for a better opportunity to seal his Asian Tour card for next season.
Though a distance away from the magical number – top 60 players retain their card for 2019 – Chiragh will draw strength from that week three years ago in his bid to “get my game back” after injury caught him off-guard.
Diagnosed with a cyst in the right wrist at the start of the year, the condition hit the Delhi golfer’s biggest strength on the course – ball striking. Another aspect is fitness. From being unable to lift a pen after the Maybank Championship in February, when the pain erupted, care has to be taken on the work in the gym. “I have gone away from what I’m used to and have to figure out how to get back to following a full regimen. Right now, I’m doing more rehab than fitness,” said Chiragh, who finished T2 last year.
Recovery will take time as he opted not to have surgery, but the work put in within prescribed parameters has shown results. After six missed cuts, Chiragh made the weekend rounds in Karachi (UMA CNS Open) at the start of the month. “Doing the best I can without taking pressure”, Chiragh is hopeful with big-ticket events in Hong Hong, Mauritius and Jo’burg lined up towards the end of the season. All it takes is a week, or even a round, to swing it around is the belief, and Chiragh feels so too.
For now, it is the tee shot on the 16th from the final day here in 2015 that motivates him. Chiragh pulled it to the left but made great recovery by hooking the 4-iron low. Leading by a shot at that point, making par was critical. Chiragh reminisced, “But for that, I would not have won.”
NEW DELHI: