Brooks Koepka Wins In Phoenix
In a day of dramatic finishes in Arizona, the Waste Management Phoenix Open was the opening act on Super Sunday. A week that started with the return of one of the game’s (former) greatest player, ended with the official arrival of a new star. Golf’s biggest party was treated to a classic finish that was a perfect appetizer for the main course.
First let me just get this out of the way, because it needs to be said. What on earth were the Seahawks thinking?!
More from Golf News
- Golf Rumors: LIV set to sign Masters Champion in stunning deal
- Brutal return leaves Will Zalatoris looking towards 2024
- Stars You Know at World Champions Cup Starts Thursday at Concession
- 2023 Hero World Challenge Predictions: The Return Of Tiger Woods?
- RSM Classic Brings the controversial 2023 PGA Tour Season to a close
Alright now that we’re done with that we can move back to the golf. Before Seattle’s blunder in the Super Bowl, Martin Laird had his own mini collapse. Going into the final round the thirty-two year old held onto a three shot lead over Hideki Matsuyama, Zach Johnson and Brooks Koepka. Laird would shoot one under on the front nine and then pared the first five holes on the backside before a birdie on fifteen. Laird’s hopes were dashed on 17 & 18 with a three-putt bogey and a tee shot in the water leading to a closing double bogey. It wasn’t exactly the Seahawks choking away a ten-point lead but for Laird he left the desert with the same result.
It could of been final round nerves or maybe it was the strong play by Koepka and Matsuyama that put the pressure on Laird. The two youngsters were not blinded by the moment and in fact they lived up to it. Matsuyama showed early why he was one of the game’s best iron players last year with a dramatic hole out for an eagle on the first hole, leading to an opening nine 31. The back nine was a little more pedestrian for the young Japanese phenom who shot even par leaving him one shot off the lead.
Koepka who like the Patriots climbed back to grab the lead after some late nine heroics. A birdie on 13 followed by an eagle on 15 was enough for him to par out the rest of the way for his first career victory. The eagle wasn’t the only highlight on the back nine; his monster drive on the 18th hole showed that this kid has the moxy to win big on he tour. Sure he’s not any where near to the Rory McIlroy level, but then again who is?
The former Florida St. Seminole’s day started with a tournament organizer pronouncing his name as “cupcake” on the first tee. After shooting 66 in the final round it’s safe to say that everyone will know his name now.
"“It feels amazing,” said Koepka to CBS’ David Feherty after his round. “I changed my putting stroke completely (at the end of 2014). Everything seems to be going right.”"
For Koepka his 2015 PGA Tour debut was him picking up right where he left off at the end of 2014. Two straight top tens to finish out the year led to the victory this week. The twenty -four year old hits it a mile and with this new found confidence on the putting green maybe he could be one of those young guns to challenge on the tour. I know I’m starving for a challenger to step up and go toe to toe with McIlroy and it’s too early to fully add Koepka to that conversation. For the time being he’s on the outside looking in, but it’s time to keep both eyes on him.