Koepka rises like a Phoenix

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February 2, 2015

Brooks Koepka won the Waste Management Phoenix Open by one stroke on Sunday.

The American closed with a five under 66 to finish on 15 under for the TPC Scottsdale event, one clear of Japanese superstar Hideki Matsuyama.

Koepka started the day in the chasing group three strokes behind overnight leader Martin Laird of Scotland, who capitulated to end with a 72.

He rolled in three birdies on his way to the 15th tee. Koepka’s second into the par five green pulled up on the fringe leaving him a 51-footer for an eagle, which he holed. That sent Koepka clear of the field.

However, Matsuyama played solid golf on the 18th and give himself a chance for an 18 foot birdie that would force a playoff, but it came up short and handed Koepka his first win on the PGA Tour.

“It feels amazing,” the 24-year-old told Sky Sports.

“The last few weeks I’ve put in a lot of hard work, changing my putting stroke completely and everything seems to be going right. I’m happy to get the win.”

Matsuyama was joined on 14 under by Ryan Palmer and former Masters Winner Bubba Watson.

Meanwhile, Jordan Spieth surged up the leaderboard following a six under 65, which included seven birdies.

“The goal [for the tournament] was to get to ten-under,” added the 21-year-old.

“Five birdies and no bogeys, just a clean card, I’d have been really happy with, so six-under I was very pleased with for the first one back in a very long time.

“The first couple of rounds I certainly had some rust I was getting off. Today, other than the last hole, it was really all positives.

“Probably my biggest improvement of the year was in my putting, so this year I’m just trying to continue to work on it, do the same things I did last year and try to get even better.”