How Rory McIlroy, Seamus Power (almost) became college teammates

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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Torrey Pines specialist Jason Day is in danger of missing the U.S. Open at the iconic coastal venue and could leave next week’s PGA Championship, or this week’s AT&T Byron Nelson, at any stage for the birth of his fourth child. The Australian has always put family first and said wife Ellie is due in early June but hits full term on her pregnancy this Friday, leaving him on call for an early departure as he looks to recapture past success in Texas. The last time he missed a major – the 2012 Open Championship – was for the birth of Dash, the couple’s first child. “If I’m playing golf, whatever, it doesn’t matter. I just want to make sure that I see the birth of our fourth child … I could get a call this week or next week. Ellie’s two to three centimeters dilated and 15% effaced, and her belly has already dropped. In the next four weeks it can come,” Day said. “If it happens to be on Sunday at a major championship where I’m in contention, it happens. You got to do it. I’m not going to miss it because I’m in contention. It would be nice to win, but family is forever.” The former Dallas resident claimed the first of his 12 PGA TOUR wins at the 2010 AT&T Byron Nelson and has four top-10s from his five tournament appearances – the sort of success he desperately needs if he’s to find his way into the field for June’s U.S. Open. While the PGA Championship comes sooner, Day circled the 2021 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines on the calendar as soon as it was announced in 2014 – a year before he would win the first of his two Farmers Insurance Open’s at the San Diego venue. He had finished runner-up at Torrey just a few months earlier and having won a Junior World title there as a kid the former world No. 1 had always loved the venue. His passion grew over time, particularly as he watched Tiger Woods win time and time again on the edge of the Pacific Ocean, including his epic triumph at the 2008 U.S. Open. But despite finishing inside the top five in half of his 10 U.S. Open appearances, the 33-year-old is yet to be exempt for the tournament and at 62nd in the world rankings sits on the outside looking in as key qualifying dates approach. Day must find a way inside the world top 60 on either May 24 (after the PGA Championship) or June 7 (after the Memorial Tournament Presented by Nationwide) to qualify as he’s already stated he does not intend to join sectional qualifying in his hometown Columbus because of a sponsor conflict. “I haven’t even thought about missing a major championship in a very long time. I’m obviously on the border of missing (Torrey). I’ve got to play well in the next two weeks,” Day said. “Obviously I would love to play the Torrey Pines U.S. Open because I’ve had a lot of success around that golf course.” His 2021 has been far from stellar thus far and he suits up in Texas off two straight missed cuts and with just one top-10 (T7, AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am). Day admits his confidence has taken a hit as distractions puncture his game and his once dominant putting prowess has waned. The 33-year-old has returned to work with former mental coach Jason Goldsmith, who was with him during his near year-long stint as world No. 1 in 2015-16, as he looks to rediscover some old swagger. First step is getting through the moments of doubt and finding love in the grind again. “I’m just trying to build that confidence. I feel like my game is starting to come around nicely and I’m starting to feel good about it,” Day said. “I know I’ve got to keep persisting. If I don’t do it, it’s not going to be enjoyable for me. If it’s not enjoyable for me, I may as well retire. I can’t play the way that I’m going and beat my head against a wall, essentially. “But, then on the other hand I’m like, ‘No, you can’t quit. You got to keep pushing, stay persistent, stay positive, patient, keep moving forward,’ and it’ll come back. Right now I’m trying to do that.”

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Here are all the ways to watch the Genesis Scottish Open this week on ESPN+.

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