By Rahul Banerji
World number one Dustin Johnson and fellow-American Brooks Koepka pulled off contrasting wins over the weekend in Saudi Arabia and the United States respectively.
While Johnson eased to his second Saudi International win in three years on the European Tour, Koepka came from almost nowhere to seal victory in the PGA Tour’s Waste Management Phoenix Open later on Sunday.
“I don’t get to play around the world as much as I’d like to and its definitely nice to get a win not on my tour,” Johnson said at the Royal Greens Golf and Country Club.
“Conditions when we started were really tough.
“I knew I was hitting it well, I saw the leader-board and I knew the guys were playing well.
“I kept giving myself chances – I didn’t hole any of them but I hit good shots and I finally holed a really nice putt on 13 and from there on I played solid.”
Johnson (67-64-66-68, 15-under 265) beat back PGA Tour compatriot Tony Finau (68-65-67-67) and Rio Olympic champion Justin Rose of England (68-66-69-65) to take the trophy by two shots.
Victory at King Abdullah Economic City also helped Johnson widen his lead at the top of the Official World Golf Ranking and gave him a ninth European Tour title.
“After Augusta to get my first win, the game’s still in really good form and I’m looking forward to the rest of the year.”
“Couldn’t hole any putts today. Just the reads, I’d see it going left to right it would go right to left; I’d see it going right to left it would go left to right. It was tough all day today,” he added.
Johnson finished runner-up at the event to Graeme McDowell last year.
Koepka’s charge
In Phoenix, Koepka carded a 19-under (68-66-66-65) that he sealed with a 98-foot eagle chip on the 17th hole after starting Sunday five shots off the lead.
It was his second Phoenix Open title and helped break a streak of three straight missed cuts.
The former world number one thus picked up his first win since the 2019 WGC FedEx St Jude Invitational. He was one shot up on Korean K.H. Lee (66-66-66-68, 266) and Xander Schauffele (66-64-65-71) at the end.
Koepka, who has also won in India, recovered from an early bogey to sink two eagles and three birdies. He picked up five shots in all (birdie, birdie, birdie, par, eagle, par) over his last six holes.
“It feels like it’s been forever,” Koepka said.
On the edge
On his decisive eagle chip-in, he added, “It’s what I live for.
“I live for those moments where you got to close, you got to hit some quality shots, quality putts. I don’t know, I just like showing off, I guess.”
Having battled knee and hip injuries through 2020, Koepka was also able to reveal the extent of his setbacks
“It was a lot worse than I probably let on.
“There was a period maybe for about two months where I just questioned whether I was ever going to be the same, whether I was even going to be somewhat remotely the same golfer that I ever was.
“Those dark places, a lot of tears, questioning yourself, and in dark places mentally. You’ve got to come out of that. … I’ll tell you what, it takes a lot of effort just do get out of those places.”
Sunday’s win was four-time Major winner Koepka’s eighth Tour trophy.
Speith sparkles
To the delight of his large following, the amiable Jordan Speith overcame an extended spell of the horrors to finish in a tie for fourth place at Phoenix.
Speith had cards of 67-67-61-72 to aggregate 17-under 267 alongside US Ryder Cup captain Steve Stricker to do his hopes no harm at all.
The former world no. 1 came into the Phoenix event ranked 92nd in the world and winless since the 2017 British Open, In round three, he carded a career-best 10-under 61.
“It is far from where I want it to be as far as how it feels, but, boy, I was debating not even playing this week, dropping out on Friday afternoon last week,” the former world no. 1 said.
“I felt like I was really far from where I needed to be and this golf course in general isn’t a great golf course for me historically, so I thought I could then go in to Pebble Beach a little fresher.
“Boy, I’m glad I came.”
Also read: Saudi International golf attracts strongest-ever field
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