Koepka to become world No. 1 after CJ Cup victory

Kang finishes strong to win LPGA Shanghai by 2 strokes

SEOUL, Oct 21, (Agencies): Brooks Koepka will become world number one for the first time on Monday after the American fended off a game Gary Woodland to earn a four-stroke victory at the PGA Tour’s CJ Cup in South Korea.

Koepka posted a final round of 64 at the Nine Bridges Golf Club on Jeju island on Sunday, finishing with a flourish by eagling the last hole for a combined 21-under 267 at the $9.5 million tournament.

The 28-year-old, who won two of this year’s four majors and was named

Brooks Koepka of the US poses with the trophy during the awards ceremony after winning the CJ Cup golf tournament at Nine Bridges golf club in Jeju Island on

Oct 21. (AFP)

contention heading into the final round but a course record 10-under 62, which included seven straight birdies to finish, gave him the clubhouse lead on 15-under before Woodland and Koepka came home.

Palmer finished tied for third with Spaniard Rafa Cabrera Bello (65).

Koepka, whose win came on his first start of the new PGA Tour season after he skipped the opening two events, showed both sides of his game on Sunday, hammering out thunderous drives and exhibiting deft touch around the greens.

With Woodland trailing by just a shot, Koepka looked to be struggling to make par on 16 when he found himself in tangly rough from off the green.

However, he produced a delightful

Danielle Kang of the US poses with her trophy after winning the Shanghai LPGA golf tournament in Shanghai on Oct 21. (AFP)

chip that disappeared straight into the cup, and when Woodland dropped a shot at the par-three 17th Koepka was virtually home and dry.

In Shanghai, Danielle Kang shot a 3-under 69 on Sunday to win the LPGA Shanghai by two strokes for her second career title.

Kang, who started the final round one stroke off the lead, offset a lone bogey on the par-5 fourth hole with four birdies after the turn to finish at 13-under 275 and hold off a late charge by Lydia Ko, who had the day’s lowest score of 66.

Kang becomes the seventh player from the United States to win on the LPGA tour in 2018.

Ko, who had seven birdies and a lone bogey, tied for second at 11 under with a group of seven players that included Brittany Altomare (71), Ariya Jutanugarn (71) and overnight co-leader Sei Young Kim (72).

I played really solid,” Ko said. I gave myself a lot of opportunities for birdies, and there was a

string there that I felt like I should have made birdies that I didn’t.”

Carlota Ciganda, who also held a share of the lead after the third round, shot a 73 to fall into a tie for ninth with Bronte Law and local favorite Lu Liu.

Paula Creamer carded three birdies against a pair of bogeys for a 71 to finish in sole possession of 12th place.

The tournament is the second of five being played in South Korea, Japan, China and Taiwan in the LPGA’s annual Asian swing.