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The 30-second guide to the CJ Cup: Who won, by how much, and what does it mean

October 21, 2018

If you didn’t stay up overnight the past four days to catch any of the CJ Cup in South Korea this weekend, we’ve got you all covered. Here’s a full breakdown of what took place at Nine Bridges, including another victory on the PGA Tour for Brooks Koepka.

Winner: Brooks Koepka by four shots over Gary Woodland

Why it matters: With his victory at the CJ Cup, the PGA Tour Player of the Year is set to ascend to the No. 1 ranking in the world on Monday when the new rankings are released.

How it played out: Koepka entered the final round up four strokes and firmly in command of the lead. However, that lead was all but eliminated after Koepka bogeyed two of his first four holes. Taking advantage of the three-time major champion’s slip-up, Gary Woodland closed in on the lead with four consecutive birdies. But after a three-putt par on 9 to close out the front half of his final round, Koepka turned on the jets and finished strong. He would birdie five of his next seven holes before delivering the death blow with an eagle on 18 to close out the win.

Disappointment of the final round: Ian Poulter, who was playing in the final group with Koepka, fell off the pace in the final round and finished tied for 10th at 10-under.

Best rallying cry: Birdies were flying off the shelves during Sunday’s final round. After playing conditions were far from ideal to open up the event, they steadily improved as the weekend went along. As a result, players took advantage of the improved conditions and scores rose accordingly. Along with Koepka, the likes of the aforementioned Woodland and Ryan Palmer were just two of the many who filled up their final round scorecards with birdies.

Up next: The PGA  Tour will have two tournaments taking place next weekend. First, the East Asia swing will continue with the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions at Sheshan International Golf Course in Shanghai, China, where Justin Rose is the defending champion. But back in the U.S., the Sanderson Farmers Championship will take place in Jackson, Mississippi where Ryan Armour is the defending champion.

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