There won’t need to be any wonky math involved. He won’t have to settle for finally reaching the the top via some kind of mathematical reset while he’s sitting at home on the couch (or more likely working out in the gym).
No, Brooks Koepka on Sunday in South Korea will have a chance to ascend to No. 1 in the Official World Golf Ranking the way every player would most want to – with a victory.
On the strength of a bogey-free round of 5-under 67 Saturday, Koepka will enter the final round of the CJ Cup four clear of Ian Poulter and Scott Piercy, with six more players five behind.
The tournament is Koepka’s to lose, and so too is the No. 1 ranking. So long as Justin Thomas doesn’t somehow defend his title from 12 shots back, Koepka can supplant Dustin Johnson atop the rankings with a win or a solo second-place finish.
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“It was something I wanted to do. I always wanted to become World No. 1 in a week that I was playing,” Koepka said Saturday. “I thought like I could really earn it and not have a week off where it just so happens that you bump up. No, it would be very special, and to do it here would be nice and hopefully get to world No. 1 and cap it off with a win, I don’t think there would be much better.”
It would be a fitting end to this breakthrough year for Koepka, who successfully defended his U.S. Open title and then added his third major victory at the PGA Championship en route to claiming the PGA Tour’s Player of the Year Award. Oddly enough, considering his status a three-time major winner and an impending No. 1, this would be Koepka’s fifth Tour victory but only his second in a non-major; his only regular Tour win to date was his first, at the 2015 Waste Management Phoenix Open.
“My confidence has always been pretty high,” Koepka said. “Anytime you can win three majors you’re going to be feeling pretty good about yourself. To do what I’ve done over the last two years has been special, but I’m looking to build on that.”
Source: Internet
