Brooks Koepka arrived 45 minutes before his tee time, calmly hit a few putts and a few balls on the range and then dismantled TPC Southwind and Rory McIlroy to lift his maiden WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational.
There was a little confusion as to the empty parking spot of the World No 1 with an hour to go until he was scheduled to arrive on the tee.
There was no confusion a few hours later after confirming his undisputed status as the leading player on the planet.
The only ones left scratching their heads are those in the McIlroy camp. A 62 in the third round put him in front of the stellar field and in line for a win to boost his bruised ego following his Open flop.
It was also billed as a blockbuster – the first time the Northern Irishman had gone toe to toe with Koepka, also a four-time Major winner.
Much to viewer displeasure, it was a bout to forget as Koepka moved to -4 through 10 to leave McIlroy in his dust. A run of 11 straight pars was never going to be enough to get past the field, let alone the world’s best player. On any measure, it was a knockout display by the big-hitting American as he scurried off out of touching distance.
Koepka now boasts seven PGA TOUR titles, six of those coming in a little over two years, four of which are Majors.
For McIlroy, it may be back to his putting coach and the equipment trailer as the flatstick misbehaved once more. In the end, he shuffled down in a share of fourth but as one of three players in the top 20 this week over par for the final round, there are a lot more questions than answers.
Unlike, the champion of course.
He not only wrapped up the tournament, but also the top spot in the regular season long Wyndham Rewards battle and its $2-million bonus, a week before the final event. And barring Alex Noren making two albatrosses next week on the par-five 15th at Sedgefield Country Club, Koepka claimed the $1-million Aon Risk Reward Challenge.
All up that is a $4.745-million Sunday. Not bad work if you can get it.
“It’s incredible. To look at what I’ve done this year, just show consistency, try to take my game to a new level and I’ve done that. To be up there in the FedExCup with a chance in Atlanta, that’s incredible,” Koepka said.
“But to win the Wyndham Rewards is incredible. That’s what you shoot for. You want to be No 1, when the season’s done and going into the playoffs, and then to add Aon Risk Reward, it just comes from the consistency. It’s incredible to look at how much you could have won today, and to do it, it’s been incredible.”
Koepka has three wins this season including the PGA Championship and THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES. He was runner-up at the Masters and the US Open and fourth at the Open Championship.
