Koepka romps home by nine shots to keep title

Tokyo: 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.