The Denver Post

Koepka is No. 1 after latest win

American takes top spot in world rankings from Dustin Johnson

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Brooks Koepka J E JU took the No. 1 spot in the world ranking from Dustin Johnson, finishing his victory in the CJ Cup at Nine Bridges with a 25foot eagle putt.

Koepka won by four strokes, playing the back nine in 7underpar 29 for an 8under 64 and a 21under 267 total. He holed a 70foot chipandrun for birdie on the par4 16th.

The 28yearold American has won three of his last 11 starts, also taking major titles in the U.S. Open and PGA Championsh­ip. He has five PGA Tour victories.

Gary Woodland was second after a 63. Ryan Palmer birdied the last seven holes for a coursereco­rd 62. He tie for third with Rafa Cabrera Bello (65) at 15 under.

Koepka won in his first start of the new season after taking PGA Tour Player of the Year honors last season. He’s the third player this year to reach No. 1 for the first time, joining Justin Rose and Justin Thomas. The last time that happened was in 1997 with Ernie Els, Tom Lehman and Tiger Woods.

Austin wins Champions event.

VA.» Woody Austin shot a 3under 69 for a onestroke victory over Bernhard Langer in the PGA Tour Champions’ playoffope­ning Dominion Energy Charity Classic.

The 54yearold Austin finished at 11 under at The Country Club of Virginia’s James River Course. He won his fourth senior title and first since 2016.

Langer, the defending tournament champion and season points leader, had a 70. The 61yearold German star won last week in North Carolina.

Jay Haas, the secondroun­d leader after a 65, shot a 74 to tie for third with Fran Quinn (69) and Kent Jones (70) at 9 under. The 64yearold Haas missed a chance to become the tour’s oldest winner.

The top 72 players qualified for the Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs opener. The top 54 move on to the Invesco QQQ Championsh­ip next week in Thousand Oaks, California, and the top 36 after that will advance to the seasonendi­ng Charles Schwab Cup Championsh­ip in Phoenix.

Kang claims LPGA Shanghai.

SHANGHAI» Danielle Kang won the LPGA Shanghai for her second career title, closing with a 3under 69 for a twostroke victory over seven players.

Kang finished at 13under 275 at Qizhong Garden Golf Club. The American also won the 2017 KPMG Women’s PGA Championsh­ip, one of the five women’s major championsh­ips.

Lydia Ko had a 66 to tie for second with Ariya Jutanugarn (71), Marina Alex (67), Annie Park (67), Wenbo Liu (68), Brittany Altomare (71) and Sei Young Kim (72).

Garcia leads own tournament.

SPA I N » Tournament host Sergio Garcia had a threeshot lead with 11 holes to play when the Andalucia Valderrama Masters was suspended because of heavy rain and the threat of lightning.

Play was set to resume Monday in the event already cut from 72 to 54 holes.

Garcia was even par for seven holes, making a birdie and a bogey.

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