Koepka outduels McIlroy, wins first WGC title by 3 strokes

By Teresa M. Walker The Associated Press

5 years ago

Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, left, shakes hands Brooks Koepka after Koepka won the final ... — Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, left, shakes hands Brooks Koepka after Koepka won the final round of the World Golf Championships-FedEx St. Jude Invitational, Sunday, July 28, 2019, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Brooks Koepka celebrates a birdie putt on the 17th green during the final round of the World Golf Championships-FedEx St. Jude Invitational, Sunday, July 28, 2019, in Memphis, Tenn. Koepka won the match. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Brooks Koepka prepares to hit on the third fairway during the final round of the World Golf Championships-FedEx St. Jude Invitational, Sunday, July 28, 2019, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Brooks Koepka hits off the 16th tee during the final round of the World Golf Championships-FedEx St. Jude Invitational, Sunday, July 28, 2019, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Brooks Koepka chips to the second green during the final round of the World Golf Championships-FedEx St. Jude Invitational, Sunday, July 28, 2019, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Brooks Koepka turned his final-round duel with Rory McIlroy into a runaway for his first World Golf Championships title.

Koepka had three birdies in a four-hole stretch on the front nine and cruised to a three-stroke victory Sunday in the FedEx St. Jude Invitational.

Playing with McIlroy in their first final-group pairing, the top-ranked Koepka closed with a bogey-free 5-under 65 at TPC Southwind for his seventh PGA Tour title. He finished at 16-under 264.

McIlroy followed his third-round 62 with a 71 to drop into a tie for fourth at 11 under.

Webb Simpson had a 64 to finish second. Marc Leishman (67) was third, four strokes back. Tommy Fleetwood (66) and Matthew Fitzpatrick (69) joined McIlroy at 11 under.

After tapping in for par on No. 18, Koepka celebrated with a little fist pump before hugging McIlroy.

Koepka had been so close in recent weeks, coming in second at the U.S. Open in June and tying for fourth last week at the British Open.

He also had a pair of top-10 finishes in this event when it was held at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio, and he also won for the first time at the TPC Southwind, where he tied for third in 2015 and tied for second in 2016 when this course hosted the former St. Jude Classic.

Now Koepka has come from behind in three of his seven victories, though this time teeing off only a stroke off the lead. When they teed off, Koepka was among 10 players within four strokes of leader McIlroy.

After a couple of pars, Koepka took control.

Koepka rolled in a 9-footer for birdie and a share of the lead on the par-5 third. McIlroy missed his own 4-foot birdie chance a couple inches left after chipping from behind a green-side bunker.

Koepka hit his second shot on the par-4 fifth from 185 yards to 5 feet for his second birdie and the outright lead, while McIlroy’s second was on the left fringe with his attempt 5 feet short on yet another par. Koepka birdied his second straight on the par-4 sixth, rolling in a 20-footer for a two-stroke lead .

Koepka padded that lead after the turn, hitting his second from 143 to 8 feet on the par-4 10th. Koepka rolled in the birdie putt to go to 15 under with a three-stroke lead making the only question left whether anyone could get close.

He created the last of the drama by scrambling for par on the next two holes. He put his second into the intermediate rough on the edge of the green on No. 15, forcing him to hole a 9-footer, with a poor chip on the par-5 16th leading to another par. But he clinched the win with a 12-footer on No. 17.

McIlroy had won three of his previous four when shooting at least a 62 in an event. The Northern Irishman who missed the cut at the British Open by a stroke last week just couldn’t keep up with Koepka.

Simpson eagled No. 3 and added a birdie on No. 6. Then he added four birdies on the back nine for the best round of the day, good only to come in second.

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