ATLANTA – Brooks Koepka proved himself human after all in the final round at the Tour Championship on Sunday when he was comprehensively outplayed by winner Rory McIlroy in Atlanta.
Four weeks after schooling McIlroy in the final round at the WGC-St. Jude Invitational, the northern Irishman got his revenge and then some at East Lake.
McIlroy shot four-under 66, six strokes better than Koepka, to clinch the tournament and the $15 million payout as FedEx Cup season-long champion.
“Just one of those days where you don't feel comfortable,” world number one Koepka told reporters after finishing equal third, five shots behind McIlroy.
“This week, just didn't get it done. I don't think I was going to beat Rory today, even if I had it.”
Usually machine-like and impervious to pressure, Koepka hit several wayward drives, including one pulled deep into the woods on the seventh hole that resulted in a lost ball.
Sunday's result in Atlanta will give Brooks Koepka's rivals confidence that he is indeed beatable. Photo: Adam Hagy-USA TODAY Sports
The American's putting also betrayed him down the stretch, as he missed a three-footer, a four-footer and a six-footer in quick succession to run up three straight bogeys.
“Those three putts I missed kind of took the air out of everything,” Koepka said.
His season will still go down as a great one, due primarily to his major record -- victory at the PGA Championship and runnerup finishes at the Masters and U.S. Open.
But Sunday's result will give his rivals, most notably McIlroy, confidence that he is beatable.
“I mean, I can't bring it every day,” Koepka said, something his peers were starting to wonder about.