Sam Torrance: Brooks Koepka is a deserving world No1 and has what it takes to stay at the top
Brooks Koepka is the new world No1 after another extraordinary win at the weekend, this time at the CJ Cup in South Korea, lifted him above fellow American Dustin Johnson – and he totally deserves it.
Koepka and Johnson are long-time friends and training buddies but the former has eclipsed the latter this year. DJ might lead the way in PGA Tour titles, with 19 to Koepka’s five, but then, at 34, he is six years older. After his US PGA Championship and US Open wins this year, Koepka has three Majors to Johnson’s one – that’s what matters.
Like his friend, Koepka has that confident saunter. Nothing seems to faze him, he takes everything in the moment, and I like that about him. Their swings also share some similarities, although Koepka’s is like Johnson’s with the rough edges taken off.
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He knows his own game very well and his chipping and putting are excellent. In short, he has everything going for him and I think he can hold onto the No1 ranking.
Koepka, who notched his third win of the year, wasn’t the only man to make a good impression in South Korea. Rafa Cabrera Bello finished in a tie for third place, earning the Spaniard an early boost in the new PGA Tour money list.
It’s always nice to get established quickly, and Cabrera Bello’s strong showing at the CJ Cup, the third event of the tour’s new season, sets him up well for 2019.
Garcia enjoying post-Ryder Cup lift
Back home, Cabrera Bello’s countryman Sergio Garcia was showing why Valderrama remains his favourite venue, sealing his third career victory at the Andalusian course.
There are many reasons why the tournament host and defending champion likes it there so much.
Valderrama is a real shapers’ course and suits golfers like Garcia who place their tee shots. Course knowledge is a huge factor there and he has it. Plus it feels like home – he’s in Spain, the food is familiar, and his family and friends are around – and that always helps.
It would have been easy for him to falter, though, with bad weather reducing the tournament to 54 holes and then forcing play to run on into Monday. But he was utterly professional, playing his remaining 11 holes in two under par to take a four-shot win. In the end he romped home.
Garcia's victory at Valderrama was his third at the Spanish course (Source: Getty)
Trying to catch Garcia at Valderrama is like attempting to chase down Lewis Hamilton when he’s had a half-lap head start. He knows what he has to do and will simply cruise home.
Garcia’s first win since the Singapore Open in January just shows what a boost the Ryder Cup can give. He had a run of seven missed cuts in 11 tournaments in the lead-up to Le Golf National but his display in the resounding win over the United States, in which he became Europe’s all-time leading points scorer, seems to have reminded him how good he is.
Lastly, there was reason to cheer for England’s David Horsey and Scotland’s Richie Ramsay, who did enough at Valderrama to climb the Race To Dubai standings and secure their European Tour cards for next season. This was their last chance to do it so it’s brilliant news for them.