Brooks Koepka outlasts Ian Poulter for first major tour win

Brooks Koepka of the United States fired a final-round 65 to outlast Ian Poulter and win the pTurkish Airlines Open at The Montgomerie Maxx Royal on November 16, 2014 in Antalya, Turkey. Richard Heathcote / Getty ImagesShow less

Antalya, Turkey // American Brooks Koepka claimed his first European Tour title in the Turkish Airlines Open on Sunday, a result which ensured his friend Rory McIlroy won the Race to Dubai for the second time in three years.

Koepka carded a flawless 65 at the Montgomerie Maxx Royal to finish 17-under par, one shot ahead of Ian Poulter, who could have forced a play-off had he made a birdie putt from six feet on the 18th.

Marcel Siem, Jamie Donaldson or Sergio Garcia had needed to win in Antalya and at next week’s DP World Tour Championship to have a chance of overtaking McIlroy on the money list. Siem started the final round just one shot off the lead, but the BMW Masters winner could do no better than a closing 71 to finish eighth, with Donaldson 19th and Garcia 25th.

Koepka carded four birdies on the front nine and holed from 40 feet for another on the 10th, before a brilliant approach to the 13th set up an eagle from just eight feet.

That gave him a two-shot lead. Although Poulter halved his deficit with his fifth birdie of the day on the same hole, he was unable to find another.

Poulter, who had a six-shot lead before a third round of 75, said: “Hats off to Brooks for a great round today. Obviously, he’s played some superb golf there.

“The damage was done on Saturday. That, for me, is really disappointing. To have played three great rounds of golf, and just one blip on Saturday, which is a real shame.”

The 24-year-old Koepka said: “It’s awesome. This field is first-class, some of the best players in the world, and it’s nice to get the win. I feel like I’ve been playing really well. Actually had a little vacation last week, which was nice, kind of recharged the batteries, didn’t touch a club. I should take more vacations.”

He started the tournament ranked 61st but will gain at least 11 places. “To jump into the top 50 in the world and be in all the majors and I guess some of the World Golf Championships events, it will be special.”

World No 6 Henrik Stenson, who will defend his title in Dubai this week, carded a 64 to finish third on 14 under, one shot ahead of Miguel Angel Jimenez, overnight leader Wade Ormsby and the English pair Andy Sullivan and Danny Willett.

McIlroy, who was one of the first players to congratulate Koepka on Twitter, did not play in any of the first three Final Series events as he prepared for an upcoming court case against a former management company.

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