Koepka roars back to form at WGC-St Jude with 8-under 62

Memphis, Tennessee, July 31: Defending champion Brooks Koepka tied his career-best score with a 62 to take the first-round lead at the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational, even as Rickie Fowler and Brendon Todd, one of three players with multiple wins in 2019-20, shot 64 each to be tied-second. Korean Sung Kang is the top Asian in fourth place with a round of five-under 65.

Koepka has not won since taking this title on the PGA TOUR in 2019. It was his seventh title, four of which have been Majors. Koepka is also the last player to successfully defend title on TOUR and he did it when he won the 2019 PGA Championship.

Koepka needs a very strong week as he entered the week at No. 155 in the FedExCup standings with just three weeks remaining until the start of the FedExCup Playoffs. He has not finished worse than 35^th in the FedExCup since joining the PGA TOUR in 2014-15. He will also be defending his title at next week’s PGA Championship.

FedExCup leader and 2018 WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational champion Justin Thomas opened with a 66 to stand T5, while Jon Rahm shot 70 in his first start since moving to No. 1 in the Official World Golf Ranking.

One week after missing the cut at the 3M Open, Koepka had nine birdies and one bogey on a windy day at TPC Southwind. It was his lowest round of the year and needed 26 putts after working earlier this week with Phil Kenyon. “It’s nice to see those results and all the changes we’ve made come through,” said Koepka.

Fowler, who last missed the cut at the Memorial chipped in from 30 feet to tie Koepka. Then Fowler two-putted for bogey after putting his tee shot in the left rough on his final hole to finish at 64, his lowest after missing three cuts since the PGA TOUR’s return to play in June.

Justin Thomas, who can move back to No. 1 in the world with a victory, shot a 66 and was tied with Matt Kuchar, Chez Reavie and Max Homa.

Jon Rahm, playing his first event since becoming No. 1 with a win at Memorial, shot 70 and then said he didn’t play like a No. 1 player.

Rory McIlroy also could move back to No. 1 with a win but opened with a 73.