(ANSA) - Rome, October 23 - Three-time major winner Brooks
Koepka won the CJ Cup @ Nine Bridges, a PGA Tour golf tournament
on Jeju island, South Korea, to become world number one for the
first time.
He is replacing team-mate Dusting Johnston at the helm of the
Official world ranking.
"To be world number one is something I dreamed of as a kid
and I don't think this one's going to sink in yet", he
reportedly said afterwards.
The 28-year-old golfer from West Palm Beach, Florida, earned
a four-stroke victory over compatriot Gary Woodland, who charged
up from five strokes behind to briefly share the lead at the
turn.
Koepka shot a final-round 8-under 64 for a 21-under total of
267.
He led by four strokes after three rounds.
Woodland finished second with 271 (-17), followed by Ryan
Palmer and Spain's Rafa Cabrera Bello (273, -15).
Jason Day, one of the favorites, ended fifth with Scott
Piercy.
Ian Poulter (278, -10) and Tyrrell Hatton (279, -9), two
players behind the European success of the Ryder Cup, earned
respectively 10th and 14th position.
Alex Noren, Paul Casey and Hideki Matsuyama closed in 18th
position (280, -8).
Justin Thomas also disappointed expectations finishing in
36th position 283 (-5), paving the way to Koepka's leadership.
Indeed with this success, Koepka is celebrating his fifth PGA
Tour victory (including three majors, two US Open victories,
2017 and 2018, and one in the PGA Championship) - an incredible
year which started with surgery to a wrist but progressed with a
round of victories and the Player of the Year award on the PGA
Tour.