Brooks Koepka claimed his fifth PGA Tour victory at the CJ Cup with a final-round 64 en route to a four-day total of 21-under par, four shots clear of runner-up Gary Woodland, who posted a Sunday round of 63.
Afterwards, Koepka met with the media in the press room at the Nine Bridges Golf Club. Here’s a few of the best questions and answers.
ON FINAL ROUND
Q: “Brooks, what an amazing day, started the day with a four-shot lead, got reeled in by the chasing pack and winning by four. What’s the feeling right now?”
BROOKS KOEPKA: “It’s amazing to grind out today. Didn’t get off to the best start that I wanted and I felt like I was one up on Poulter after about four or five holes, and next thing you know I look on 8 and tied with Gary. Gary played a hell of a round. To play that back nine as well as I did, I didn’t even know I shot 29, but that’s pretty cool.
“It’s amazing to go World No. 1 on a win I think is something I’ve always wanted to do. It’s something I always wanted to earn my way to No. 1 in the world and I felt like if I played and won, that would be exactly how I could draw it up. To do that this week has been special.”
ON JOURNEY TO WORLD NO. 1
Q: “This is your fifth PGA Tour victory, your 12th win in seven different countries, your first in South Korea. When you look back at your journey in the game, what emotions go through you right now?”
KOEPKA: “It’s unbelievable. I look at where I started, my first pro start was in Switzerland and I don’t think I could have said six years later that I would be No. 1 in the world. I think it’s incredible.
“All these places I’ve won at, we saw a stat yesterday where it was I’ve cracked the top 1,000, 500, 400, 300 and so on, so on, I only cracked any — I think the top-10 in the United States, everywhere else has been in a different country and it’s probably fitting that I did it in Korea. But it’s a cool feeling.
“I can’t wait to come back next year, this golf course is fantastic. It’s so much fun to, play. It really challenged you. I’m so happy now, I don’t even know what to says.”
ON PLANS FOR 2019 SEASON
Q: “So the season is now really in full swing, so how many events are you planning to play this season and what are some of the more important events do you think in terms of keeping your ranking as World No. 1?”
KOEPKA: “Well, if I want to stay No. 1, I need to play all four majors, I need to play four WGCs, and from then on play a couple golf courses I like and a couple places that suit me and hopefully get to 22 events or something like that.
“But I need to play well in the majors, that’s been my key. That’s been something that I’ve created a pattern in the majors and I just need to keep improving.
“I haven’t figured out Augusta yet and I’m looking forward to finally going back and trying to figure out how to really take advantage of that golf course because I feel with my game I definitely can. And then just looking to come back to all the majors that I’ve won — the PGA, U.S. Open — and hopefully defend those again and then finish it off with a good showing at the British. I love links golf, so it’s a tournament I’m always looking forward to every year.
“Those are the key events. If you can sprinkle in a few wins on some regular Tour events, that’s great, but you need to really make sure you show up at the majors.”
