Koepka wins Phoenix Open fight for first US title

PHOENIX, Feb 2 (BSS/AFP): American Brooks Koepka won his first US PGA title by holding off Hideki Matsuyama, Martin Laird and Masters champion Bubba Watson over Sunday's final holes to win the $6.3 million Phoenix Open.

Koepka fired a bogey-free 66, five-under par, to finish 72 holes on 15-under 269, one stroke in front of Watson, fellow American Ryan Palmer and Japan's 22-year-old Matsuyama, who missed an 18-foot birdie putt on the final hole to ensure 24-year-old Koepka's triumph.

"It feels amazing," Koepka said. "I had quite a few scares but it was a fun day. Me and Hideki will be battling for quite a while. I hope we're doing it for a few more years."

Koepka, ranked 33rd, shared fourth at last year's US Open and won his first European Tour title last November at the Turkish Airlines Open.

"The last few weks I've put in a lot of hard work, changed my putting stroke completely," Koepka said. "It paid off."