Follow live: USA looks for fast start at Ryder Cup

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• COURSE: Sedgefield Country Club (Ross), 7,127 yards, par 70. The 1925 Donald Ross design was one of two courses used for the Greater Greensboro Open’s 1938 debut and now stands as the lone Ross layout to serve as a regular PGA TOUR stop. Sedgefield later became an alternating site, before a 1961-76 run as host that included Sam Snead’s 1965 triumph that was the last of his record 82 TOUR victories. Sedgefield also holds a place in college sports history as the site where the Atlantic Coast Conference was founded in 1953. Following a 2007 restoration to its original specifications, the Greensboro event returned to its roots after a 31-year hiatus. • FEDEXCUP: Winner receives 500 points. • CHARITY: The Wyndham Worldwide Charitable Foundation, which supports enrichment of the lives of children around the world via education, wellness and conservation. Other beneficiaries include The First Tee of the Triad, the Crosby Scholars Community Partnership and the Piedmont Triad Partnership. • FIELD WATCH: Davis Love III, whose victory two years ago at age 51 made him the third-oldest winner in PGA TOUR history, and 2015 Open Championship winner Henrik Stenson top the marquee for the final event before the FedExCup playoffs. … Though the roster features just five of the current FedExCup top 30, all but 15 from Nos. 90-190 are entered. … Back woes will keep reigning champion Si Woo Kim from defending his title. The 22-year-old Korean withdrew after his opening round at the PGA Championship. … Kevin Kisner is the only entrant among the current top 10 in FedExCup points; Stenson is highest in the world rankings at No.8. … Haotong Li, third at last month’s Open Championship after a closing 63, tees it up on a sponsor invitation. So will Dru Love, the fifth time he joins his dad in the same PGA TOUR field. • 72-HOLE RECORD: 259, Carl Pettersson (2008), Si Woo Kim (2016). • 18-HOLE RECORD: 60, Si Woo Kim (2nd round, 2016). • LAST YEAR: Kim claimed his first PGA TOUR victory in record fashion, parlaying a second-round 60 into a five-shot romp. The Korean pro’s 10-under-par 60 established a new Greensboro record, just missing a 50-foot birdie putt at the finish that would have given him a historic 59. Kim took a four-shot lead into the final day, and a 14-foot birdie on the 72nd hole closed out a 67 allowed him to match Pettersson’s tournament record. At age 21, Kim also became the youngest TOUR winner of 2015-16, and second-youngest in Greensboro history behind 20-year-old Seve Ballesteros’ victory in 1978. The victory came just five weeks after Kim lost a playoff to Aaron Baddeley at the Barbasol Championship in Alabama. Luke Donald’s closing 67 was enough to finish second, one shot ahead of Hideki Matsuyama and Brandt Snedeker. • STORYLINES: It’s the final chance for players to crack the FedExCup playoffs lineup by moving into the top 125 on the points list. A year ago, Shawn Stefani and Kyle Stanley were the only men to make the move. … Daniel Summerhays (124th), Geoff Ogilvy (125th) and Cameron Tringale (126th) are the players currently on the bubble. … Farther back, former major champions Graeme McDowell (131st), Retief Goosen (161st) and Padraig Harrington (199th) are entered, along with Hall of Famer Ernie Els (213th). … Only three men have come to Greensboro at 140th or lower in the FedExCup standings and left with a playoff berth. • SHORT CHIPS: In the 10 years since the FedExCup playoffs debuted, an average of 2.6 players have booked a late playoff spot in Greensboro. Three editions have seen five punch their tickets, including two years ago. On the flip side, no one did it in 2013. … Kim was the sixth winner in the past nine editions to close out a 54-hole lead, though immediate predecessors Love III (2015) and Camilo Villegas (2014) did it in come-from-behind fashion. … Though winning scores have differed, four of the past five editions have seen the runner-up post 16-under 264. • TELEVISION: Thursday, 2-6 p.m. ET (Golf Channel). Friday, 2-4 p.m. (GC). Saturday-Sunday, 3-6 p.m. (CBS). • PGA TOUR LIVE: Thursday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m. (featured groups), 3-6 p.m. (featured holes). • RADIO: Thursday-Friday, noon-6 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 1-6 p.m. (PGA TOUR Radio on SiriusXM and PGATOUR.com).

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MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Brooks Koepka sauntered into TPC Southwind just 45 minutes before his final round showdown with Rory McIlroy and the elite chasing pack at the World Golf Championships – FedEx St. Jude Invitational. Clearly sporting some sort of illness all week, Koepka had people nervous as to whether he was going to be ready to play at all as the minutes ticked by. They need not have worried. The 29-year-old joined 54-hole leader McIlroy at the top just three holes into Sunday’s final round before taking the lead outright on the fifth hole. He would never lose control from there, posting a bogey-free 5-under 65 to win by three over Webb Simpson. McIlroy failed to create the epic showdown all had hoped for and was relegated to just a bystander with his 71, falling five shots back. With his first World Golf Championship win, Koepka now boasts seven PGA TOUR titles, six of those coming in a little over two years, four of which are majors. He not only wrapped up the tournament, but also the top spot in the regular season long Wyndham Rewards battle and its $2 million bonus, a week before the final event. And barring Alex Noren making two albatrosses next week on the par-5 15th at Sedgefield Country Club, Koepka claimed the $1 million Aon Risk Reward Challenge. All up that is a $4.745 million Sunday. Not bad work if you can get it. “It’s incredible. To look at what I’ve done this year, just show consistency, try to take my game to a new level and I’ve done that. To be up there in the FedExCup with a chance in Atlanta, that’s incredible,â€� Koepka said. “But to win the Wyndham Rewards is incredible. That’s what you shoot for. You want to be No. 1, when the season’s done and going into the Playoffs, and then to add Aon Risk Reward, it just comes from the consistency. It’s incredible to look at how much you could have won today, and to do it, it’s been incredible.â€� Koepka has three wins this season including the PGA Championship and THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES. He was runner up at the Masters and the U.S. Open and was fourth at the Open Championship. It was the quick trip back from Northern Ireland and it’s tough weather that left Koepka vulnerable to illness this week. But he was not making excuses. And he claimed coming in late was far from a big deal. “It doesn’t affect your play. It doesn’t affect me hitting a golf ball. I mean, I don’t feel good. I haven’t felt good all week, but I don’t want to make an excuse, I’m not trying to complain. Just get on with it. People go to work sick all the time,â€� he said. “I always take less time on Sunday. I’m already loose when I get to the golf course. I don’t even need to hit balls. I’ve already stretched, I’ve already done everything. I don’t know why everybody else is in a panic, I’m not. I’m sure you didn’t see one ounce of stress on my face.â€� He’s right on that count. It was a stress-free day for Koepka as the chasers failed to mount enough pressure to worry him. McIlroy missed a short birdie putt on the par-5 3rd and it went downhill from there. Simpson shot a tidy 64 on Sunday to post his best result since winning the 2018 PLAYERS Championship but never actually caught Koepka. Marc Leishman had five back nine birdies, but a couple of bogeys also meant he was never really in the hunt. Now that he has the regular season locked up, Koepka can set his sights on the FedExCup proper. He finished 10th in the FedExCup in 2016-17 and ninth in 2017-18. “The year’s not done, I’ve still got a few things to finish off and hopefully it will go my way. I haven’t thought that far ahead, but if I did (win it), that would be incredible,â€� Koepka said. “This run I’m on the last couple years has been so special. I’ve given myself some good chances but I’ve just never played well in the Playoffs. I don’t know what it is, whether it’s just a little burnt out or what, but I haven’t gotten it done. So this year, in a little better shape. Hopefully a week off will just kind of relax and take it easy and then get back in the swing of things.â€� Even if he waits until Thursday to turn up at THE NORTHERN TRUST, you’d be brave to bet against him.

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