BROOKS Koepka sealed his first World Golf Championships title as he cruised to a three-shot victory at the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational.

The World No. 1 carded an impressive bogey-free round of 65 at TPC Southwind to get to 16-under par and add a WGC to his four Major Championship victories.

Fellow American Webb Simpson proved to be his closest challenger, finishing at 13-under after a sparkling final round of 64.

Koepka started the day a shot behind overnight leader and playing partner Rory McIlroy, but looked in total control from the moment he made the first of five birdies at the third hole.

Koepka said: “It’s incredible. I’ve always loved this place, so to play well here, it’s incredible.

“It’s a golf course that I feel like I know better than any other golf course on Tour. To finally get the win here, it’s special, especially now with it being a World Golf Championship.

“These last few years have been unbelievable. It’s been an incredible run, been playing some good golf and I’m excited for what the future holds.

“When I went to that hospital (St Jude) I believe it was two years ago, maybe three, it changed my life.

“I appreciate the little things because you see these kids and they’re struggling for their lives.

“And everything their families have to sacrifice and what they’re going through on a daily basis is nothing compared to what any trouble any of us will ever have.”

The 29-year-old now has six European Tour victories, having claimed his first at the Turkish Airlines Open in 2014, to go with his four European Challenge Tour wins, before going on to Major glory.

Runner-up Simpson said: “I knew I needed a quick start. Chasing a guy like Brooks Koepka or Rory McIlroy is a tough thing, so I knew it was going to take a low round.

“But I also know that this golf course, if you’re a little off, you can get some penalty shots quickly. So, I had hope starting the day.

“Everything through the bag was doing what it needs to be doing. I made some putts, made a few par saves when I needed to.

“Getting off to a great start, eagle at three, birdie at six, that was the start I was hoping for and the start I needed. Very satisfied.”

Australian Marc Leishman finished in third place at 12-under, one clear of McIlroy and English duo Matthew Fitzpatrick and Tommy Fleetwood.

“It was a really solid day,” said Fleetwood, who has a runner-up finish in the 2017 WGC-Mexico Championship to his name.

“You’re always going to look at it and think a couple more putts could have gone, because I think I gave myself three or four good chances from 10, 12 feet,” Tommy added.

“Hole a couple of those and you’re right up there. Overall, just another really good week, another solid week of golf. Just consistent results.

“You never know what’s going to happen and there’s still a chance out there on Sundays. We know Sundays in contention are difficult even for the best players in the world.”

Fleetwood said: “You’ve still got to go out there and finish it off. So, go out and do your best, which I did. I would have liked a couple more, but overall, you can’t be too disappointed.”

Spain’s Jon Rahm was then in seventh place at 10-under and finished the week by donating $23,000 – $1,000 for every birdie he made – to the St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which has benefitted from tournaments played at TPC Southwind since 1989.

Rahm, a recent winner of the Irish Open at Lahinch, said: “I played good enough to make a run, I just couldn’t make anything.

“Besides that first hole, from two to nine I don’t think I was over 20 feet for eagle really more than once.

“They all had a chance, I just couldn’t make them. Had I been able to make a couple more than what I did and get myself closer to the lead, would have had a chance on the back nin.

“Any of the problems I’ll ever have on a golf course are nothing, absolutely nothing compared to what some of those kids go through,” Rahm reflected.

“To see their smile at least for five seconds taking care of the flag and people cheering for them, it’s heartwarming, it’s fun.

“We’re playing for a lot more than just ourselves this week. I always think it’s important to give back.”

Children who have been treated at the hospital also joined the final groups on the 18^th green on Sunday to place the pin flags.

England’s Ian Poulter finished at nine-under, with American pair Billy Horschel and Bubba Watson one shot further back and rounding out the top 10 at eight-under.

For full scores click here.

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Rory McIlroy will be focussing on winning a third WGC titile in the Fed Ex St Jude Invitational at TPC Southwinds in Memphis, having admitted the emotions of playing in front of the Irish fans at Royal Portrush in last week’s Open had got to him. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

RORY McIlroy arrives at the  WGC-FedEx St Jude Invitational buoyed by the support of his home country, after experiencing an outpouring of love as he narrowly missed the cut at The Open last week.

An emotional McIlroy was visibly overwhelmed by the support he received on Friday after battling back from a disappointing opening round at Royal Portrush, as his friend Shane Lowry went on to lift the Claret Jug.

The Northern Irishman is feeling positive about the lessons learned as he aims for a third World Golf Championships title when he tees it up at the final WGC event of the season at TPC Southwind in Memphis.

McIlroy said: “I like the World Golf Championships. It’s some of the strongest fields of the year and you’re playing with the strongest players from the get‑go.

“Like playing with Brooks (Koepka) and Jason Day (Thursday and Friday), to be in those sort of marquee groups from the outset is a cool thing.

“I sort of like these events that have no cut. You go out there and freewheel from the start.

“Not that you should have any sort of a different attitude in regular events, but I’ve always enjoyed the golf courses that the WGCs have been at.

“I don’t know if hit home my place in the game (last week), but I think it was more where I stood in terms of the people of my home country.

“I think that was what was overwhelming for me. I didn’t cry because I missed the cut, I was overwhelmed by the support that I got.

“I guess at the end of the day I didn’t think I meant as much to them, and I realised that they mean more to me than I thought, so I think it went both ways and it was really nice.

“I’m looking forward to seeing Shane, I’m just so happy for him. It’s always great to see friends do so well.

“I think I’ve learned a lot in the four Majors this year in terms of how I’ve started, how I’ve played in them, how I’ve tried to approach them.

Sometimes I’ve tried to take the emotion out of playing golf.  I try to think logically and try to be very stoic about the whole thing, but I was emotional on Friday and I was still able to play good golf in spite of that.

“So, I thought that was a good lesson as well.”

The statistics are on McIlroy’s side this week – not only has he won his event before, in its previous guise in Akron, Ohio, back in 2014, but on three of the last four occasions he has missed a cut he has finished first or second the following week.

His Ryder Cup team mate and fellow former World Number One Justin Rose is also aiming for a third WGC title this week after claiming the WGC-HSBC Champions two years ago and the WGC-Cadillac Championship in 2012, as he worked towards his maiden Major title at the U.S. Open the following year.

They will face stiff competition from World Number Two Dustin Johnson, who is the de facto defending champion this week, after winning the last event to be played at TPC Southwind last season to add to the first title that he won at this course in 2012.

He is delighted to see the city of Memphis – and a course he loves – host a WGC for the first time, while the event continues to give back to the community by supporting the St Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Rose who admitted last week that he was still adjusting to the new schedule which sees a Major played every month from April to July, and is not convinced it is a good thing, saiod: “Just the way the schedule worked out for me, with this event previously prior to the US Open – I’ve always been a guy that’s liked to kind of practice before Major Championships –

“So to have the opportunity to finally be here in Memphis is something I’ve been looking forward to. My first impressions is it’s fantastic. The conditioning of the facility is unbelievable.

“I think it’s a great pairing for me (Jordan Spieth and Matt Kuchar). I enjoy both of those guys’ company and their caddies as well, so I think there will be some good banter.

“I’m actually staying in a condo this week with Kuch, so it’s going to be a long week of Kuch banter and Kuch dry sense of humour.

“I won a WGC in 2012 along with the Ryder Cup. That kind of gave me that belief that I was ready to win a Major. So yeah, that was a great steppingstone couple of years.”

Dustin Johnson has the best record in WGCs with six victories – 12 behind Tiger’s total of 18 and will be looking to get back to winning ways.

Johnson, who has won twice at TPC Southwinds, said: “It’s a place that I always enjoy coming back to. I’ve had a lot of success on this golf course.

“I think the golf course is in probably the best shape I’ve ever seen it with the rain Sunday and Monday. The fairways are a little soft, but the greens are perfect. It’s in very good shape.

“Having a World Golf Championship here, it’s big for the town, it’s big for FedEx and it’s big for this community.

“We’ve got great field this week and I think it will be a lot of fun to be a part of for the first time.

“And obviously this tournament raises a lot of money and what St. Jude does, I mean, it’s unbelievable what they do and how many people they help. It’s incredible. So, it’s something, that definitely means a lot to me.”

Follow lives scoring in the WGC Fed Ex St Jude Invitational here.

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