Brooks Koepka finally has a World Golf Championship to go with his four major titles.
The top-ranked Koepka showed that he is the best golfer in the world right now, if there was any doubt, by shooting a bogey-free 65 to win the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational by three strokes over Webb Simpson at TPC Southwind https://tpc.com/southwind in Memphis, Tenn.
“This is a very special place because of St. Jude and FedEx, one of my favorite spots, and it gives me goose bumps to win here,” said Koepka, who claimed his third victory of the season, including the PGA Championship. “I’ve been playing so well lately and if you stay patient, good things will come.
“I’ve taken a trip to (St. Jude Children’s Hospital) and it’s a life-changing experience. Everyone who has a chance should go there and see the kids struggling for their lives. It puts golf and life into perspective.”
Koepka, who finished in the top four of every major this season, was one stroke behind Rory McIlroy after three rounds but took the lead with three birdies on the first six holes and added two more coming home to finish at 16-under 264.
Simpson, the 2012 U.S. Open champion, sank a 27-foot eagle putt on the second hole en route to a 64 and finished solo second, while Marc Leishman of Australia was four shots back in third after a 67 that included five birdies on the back nine.
“I’m very satisfied,” said Simpson, who also won the 2018 Players Championship. “I had hopes at the start of the day and thought if I got off to a quick start I might have a chance, but Brooks is just playing too well.”
Third-ranked McIlroy could manage only a 71 one day after shooting 62 and finished five down in a tie for fourth with Englishmen Tommy Fleetwood, who had a 66, and Matthew Fitzpatrick, who wound up at 69.
Eighth-ranked Jon Rahm of Spain was another shot back in seventh after a 69, followed one more shot down by Ian Poulter of England, who also had a 69, while Bubba Watson posted yet another 69 to tie for ninth with Billy Horschel, who came in at 70.
Fourth-ranked Justin Rose finished 11th after a 68, while defending champion and ninth-ranked Justin Thomas shot 71 to finish in a tie for 12th that included 10th-ranked Patrick Cantlay of Los Alamitos and UCLA, who had a 73.
Second-ranked Dustin Johnson tied for 20th after a 68 and seventh-ranked Bryson DeChambeau also totaled 68 to tie for 48th.
For complete results, visit https://www.pgatour.com/competition/2019/wgc-fedex-st-jude-invitational/leaderboard.html
