50-foot eagle putt helps Koepka in first Tour victory
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Brooks Koepka has lost track of the miles flown, the oceans crossed and the stamps in his passport as he toiled in remote corners of the golfing world for more than two years to prepare himself for moments like Sunday at the Phoenix Open.
The most significant journey turned out to be the 50 feet his golf ball traveled from the fringe, up a ridge and right into the cup.
That eagle on the par-5 15th hole gave Koepka a share of the lead, and he left the mistakes to everyone else the rest of the way. He closed with a 5-under 66 for a one-shot victory and his first PGA Tour title.
“I left every long putt short today,” Koepka said. “I said to my caddie, ‘I’m finally going to get this one there.’ ”
Hideki Matsuyama, among five players who had a share of the lead over the wild final hour at the TPC Scottsdale, was the last player in Koepka’s way. The 22-year-old from Japan had an 18-foot putt to force a playoff, but it never had a chance and he closed with a 67.
Masters champion Bubba Watson (65) and Ryan Palmer (66) had to settle for pars on the three closing holes and joined Matsuyama in a tie for second. Martin Laird, tied for the lead with two holes to play, hit into the gallery on the 17th and made bogey and yanked his tee shot into the water on the 18th and made double bogey for a 72.
A week that began with hype over Tiger Woods, who shot 82 and missed the cut by 12 shots, ended with yet another example of a massive generation shift.
The 24-year-old Koepka didn’t get the recognition of Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas, or former U.S. Amateur champion Peter Uihlein, his roommate in Florida with whom he often traveled in Europe. His raw power got the attention of his peers, however, and Koepka went through enough trials to mature into a rising star.
“It’s unbelievable,” said Koepka, who finished at 15-under 269. “I didn’t think I would work my way up this quickly, but playing the Challenge and European tours led to this. And especially the failure I’ve had. I can’t tell you how much I learned from that.”
Arizona State junior Jon Rahm closed with a 68 to tie for fifth. However, the top 10 does not get the Spaniard into Torrey Pines next week because he is an amateur. Besides, he’s on his way to Hawaii to join his teammates for a tournament.
Koepka is going to San Diego — one of the shorter trips in his career — and with new status as a PGA Tour winner.
DUBAI: An unrelenting Rory McIlroy secured his second Dubai Desert Classic title in six years with a 2-under 70 in the final round to win by three shots on Sunday.
The Northern Irishman’s 22-under 266 total matched the lowest in the history of the tournament, set by Stephen Gallacher in 2013 and Thomas Bjorn in 2001.
The top-ranked McIlroy, whose win here in 2009 was his first as a professional, made just three birdies Sunday but kept mistakes off his card. His only bogey of the round came on the par-3 seventh hole at Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis course.
“I just wanted to keep my ball in play and not really make any mistakes and try and pick off some birdies when I could on the par 5s,” McIlroy said.
“I did what I needed to do. It wasn’t the best round that I’ve played this year but I got the job done and that’s the most important thing.”
Sweden’s Alexander Noren, making a comeback from a wrist injury which restricted him to playing just two events in 2014, had eight birdies in his round of 65 to take second place at 19-under 269.
“I never even thought of winning, Rory’s playing so good,” said Noren, who started the year ranked 654th.
Defending champion Gallacher closed with a 69 to give the Scot third place at 16-under 272.
There was a five-way tie for fourth on 15-under 273, involving Germany’s Martin Kaymer (64), France’s Gary Stal (68), Austria’s Bernd Wiesberger (70), England’s Andy Sullivan (70) and Denmark’s Morten Orum Madsen (73).