The WM Phoenix Open Report

Jordan Spieth, one of America's most exiting up-and-coming young guns, was widely expected to win the Waste Management Phoenix Open on Sunday. He didn't. He finished joint 7th.

But another one did.

Globe-trotting, 24-year-old Brooks Koepka shook up both Spieth and some of the other pre-tournament favourites, earned himself a two-year exemption on the US PGA Tour and, along with it, some US$1.34m in prize money by closing with a 5-under 66 at TPC Scottsdale's famed Stadium Course to finishing with a 15-under 269 that proved to be just one shot too good for fellow-Americans Bubba Watson (65) and Ryan Palmer (66) and Japan's Hideki Matsuyama (67).

Scot Martin Laird was the best of the overseas invaders. He finished a shot further back in a fifth-place tie with Jon Rahm on a 12-under 272 after finishing with disappointing 72.

But who is this first-time US winner Koepka, some of you may ask?

To start with, winning is nothing new to him.

He's been a professional for fewer than three years, but already he has won more trophies around the world than during his four years with Florida State University where he won three times during his All-American career

Opting to start his pro career in Europe, he promptly went out and won four times on the European Challenge Tour, this in Spain (twice), Italy and Scotland, and then, having qualified for his European Tour card, he shook up the Europeans in November last year by taking on many of their biggest stars and winning the prestigious Turkish Airlines Open.

"It's unbelievable," Koepka said after his Scottsdale triumph. "I didn't think I would work my way up this quickly, but playing the Challenge and European tours led to this. And especially the failures I've had. I can't tell you how much I learned from that.

“But my drive, I think is what it is. I want to be the best player in the world. I’m not there yet, and I know it’s going to take time, but I want to get to that point.”

In the meantime he is proving to be one of the game's coolest customers.

He was able to laugh when the starter pronounced his name as "cupcake" on the first tee and he didn't allow himself to be fazed by Matsuyama when the Japanese star holed a wedge from 129 yards for eagle on the opening hole, or when he added two more birdies to catch Laird, who had begun Sunday with a three-shot lead.

At this stage Koepka was making nothing but pars, but he was biding his time. Back-to-back birdies late on the front nine kept him in the hunt, though he still lay two shots behind.

Matsuyama eventually took the lead when he holed an immaculate pitch from behind the green at the par-5 13th, and Koepka followed him to 4 feet for a birdie to stay two behind. Matsuyama had gone 44 holes without a bogey until a three-putt on the 14th - and that seemed to set the cat among the pigeons - Koepka excepted

Ted Florida-born golfer next rolled in a 50-foot putt for a shock eagle which tied a struggling Laird, who two-putted from 25 feet.

The tournament was effectively turned on its head at the 322-yard 17th. Laird hit his ball into the gallery, chipped out to 50 feet and then three three-putted for a bogey. Koepka didn't lose a shot, but he was he as a little lucky. With the tees moved forward, it was slightly too close for his 3-wood, but not long enough for his hybrid.

He hit the ball over the green towards a water hazard with his three wood and for a moment felt that his race was run.

"One of the camera guys said it stayed up. I still don't know how," he said.

The ball settled on the red hazard line, a foot from the water and he managed to make par.

At 18 he looked nerveless when he stepped confidently on to the tee, took the tiger line and drove his tee shot over the water and bunkers, 331 yards away. After that there was no stopping him

Watson, on the other hand, tied for the lead by holing a bunker shot on the par-3 12th for birdie and two-putting for birdie from 20 feet on the 13th, but, "Just couldn't do anything after that."

Nor Matsuyama or Palmer, who also had birdie chances on the last three holes, but couldn't convert.

And Tiger Woods? Sad to say he not only missed the cut, his second round 82 left stone last after 36 holes with his worst-ever professional score and there were a lot of questions being asked about whether he did the right thing when he once more changed his swing coach recently.

Phoenix Open Leader Board

-15 Brooks Koepka 71 68               64 66 269
-14 Hideki Matsuyama 69             71 63 67 270
-14 Ryan Palmer 64 72 68 66 270
-14 Bubba Watson 65 71 69 65 270
-12 Martin Laird 66 66 68 72 272
-12 Jon Rahm 70               68 66 68 272
-11 Graham DeLaet 67 70              69 67 273
-11 Freddie Jacobson 68                73 68 64 273
-11 Jordan Spieth 70 68  70 65 273

For any feedback or ideas you are welcome to email: neville@golfweather.com.