Turkish Airlines Open: Brooks Koepka win ensures Race To Dubai glory for Rory McIlroy
Sunday 16 November 2014 16:11, UK
Brooks Koepka claimed his first European Tour title at the Turkish Airlines Open, a result which ensured Rory McIlroy won the Race to Dubai for the second time in three years.
Koepka carded a flawless closing 65 at the Montgomerie Maxx Royal to finish 17 under par, one shot ahead of Ian Poulter who missed a birdie putt from six feet on the 18th to force a play-off.
Marcel Siem, Jamie Donaldson or Sergio Garcia had needed to win in Turkey and at next week's DP World Tour Championship to have a chance of overtaking McIlroy on the money list.
And although Siem started the final round just one shot off the lead, the BMW Masters winner could only card a closing 71 to finish joint eighth, with Donaldson 19th and Garcia 25th.
Koepka, who won three times on the Challenge Tour last year to gain instant promotion to the European Tour, carded four birdies on the front nine and holed from 40 feet for another on the 10th, before a brilliant approach to the 13th set up an eagle from just eight feet.
That gave him a two-shot lead and although Poulter halved his deficit with his fifth birdie of the day on the same hole, the Ryder Cup star was unable to find another on the last despite a superb long greenside bunker shot.
Sweden's Henrik Stenson shot a closing 64 to leap up the leaderboard and finish in solo third and move to second place in the Race To Dubai standings.
Overnight leader Wade Ormsby shared fourth spot with Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez along with English duo Andy Sullivan and Danny Willett.
Defending champion Victor Dubuisson, who had struggled badly earlier in the tournament, jumped up to tied 15th thanks to a closing eight-under 64.
Koepka follows in the footsteps of his good friend Peter Uihlein in winning on the European Tour and will almost certainly succeed Uihlein as the Sir Henry Cotton rookie of the year as well.
Awesome
"It's awesome," said the 24-year-old. "I played well This field is first class, some of the best players in the world, and it's nice to get the win.
"I feel like I've been playing really well. Actually had a little vacation last week, which was nice, kind of recharged the batteries, didn't touch a club. I should take more vacations.
"To jump into the top 50 in the world (he started the week 61st) and be in all the majors and I guess some of the World Golf Championships events, it will be special."
