Koepka eagles 17, rallies to capture Phoenix Open
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — At the lowest points in an 18-month struggle with left knee and hip problems, Brooks Koepka wondered if he’d ever be back at all, let alone recapture the magic that carried him to four major championships.
“It’s been a wild ride for the last year and a half and very frustrating,” Koepka said. “I’ve had moments where I didn’t know if I was going to be the same, if I could even come back.”
He looked as good as ever on the back nine Sunday in the Waste Management Phoenix Open, rallying for a victory that didn’t seem possible not that long ago.
It was sunny and fun Sunday in the desert, especially on the 17th hole. That’s where he chipped in from 32 yards for his second eagle of the day to break a tie for the lead. A par on the 18th gave him a one-stroke victory.
Five strokes behind Jordan Spieth and Xander Schauffele entering the round, Koepka shot a 6-under 65 to finish at 19-under 265.
Schauffele birdied the 18th for a 71 to tie for second with Kyoung-Hoon Lee (68).
Steve Stricker, the 53-year-old U.S. Ryder Cup captain who was trying to become the oldest winner on the PGA Tour, closed with a 67 to tie for fourth with Spieth (72) and Carlos Ortiz (64) at 17 under. In other golf news:
• Top-ranked Dustin Johnson won the Saudi International for the second
time in three years after shooting a 2-under 68 in the final round to finish two strokes clear of Justin Rose and Tony Finau at King Abdullah Economic City, Saudi Arabia.