No.1 Koepka warns he can ‘get even better’
shanghai — Brooks Koepka has won half of this year’s majors and is golf’s newly anointed world number one, but the redhot 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.
The 28-year-old, who combines a powerful game with a cool demeanour, 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 number two Dustin Johnson, reigning US Masters champion Patrick Reed, fourtime 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, along with several of their teammates. Johnson memorably imploded last year in the final round at Sheshan, surrendering a six-stroke lead compiled through 54 holes and opening a door that Rose barged through to win.—