GOLF NEWS - US Open champion Brooks Koepka stormed to victory at the Japan Tour's Dunlop Phoenix Tournament on Sunday, finishing with an eagle flourish to retain the title by nine shots after a final round four-under-par 67.
Koepka finished on 20-under 264 for the $1.8 million tournament at Phoenix Country Club in Miyazaki with compatriot Xander Schauffele (71), Thai Prayad Marksaeng (67) and South Korean Lee Sang-hee (72) well beaten in a share of second.
Hideki Matsuyama looked like he might be launching a Sunday charge when he fired a hole-in-one at the par-three third hole but a double-bogey just after the turn effectively ended his chances of a second Dunlop Phoenix title after his 2014 win.
Japan's world No 4 revived his round with three birdies on the back nine but another bogey at the 17th saw him drop out of a share of second and he finished fifth on 10-under after a 69.
Koepka's maiden major triumph in June came on the back of a late surge at Erin Hills but there was no need for anything spectacular on the back nine on Sunday after he started the day with a four-stroke lead and made a sizzling start.
Birdies on his first two holes and another at the par-five seventh took the 27-year-old well clear of the field at the turn, and bogeys at the 10th and 17th were offset by a shot picked up at the 13th and his eagle-three on the 18th.
