Co-leader Koepka makes solid start to title defense in Japan

[November 16, 2017]    (Reuters) - Defending Dunlop Phoenix Tournament champion Brooks Koepka quickly stamped his authority on the challengers to his title with a six-under-par 65 to tie South Korean Lee Sang-hee for the first-round lead in Miyazaki, Japan on Thursday.

Brooks Koepka tees off on the first hole during the final round singles matches of The President's Cup golf tournament at Liberty National Golf Course. Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports/File Photo

The long-hitting U.S. Open champion overpowered the Phoenix Country Club course in a round blemished only by a bogey at his final hole, where the American's 12-foot par putt failed to drop.

Lee, a winner at the Maekyung Open in South Korea in May, joined Koepka at the top of the Japan Golf Tour event leaderboard with a bogey-free performance.

They headed Angelo Que of the Philippines by one stroke, with world number four Hideki Matsuyama, the 2014 champion, among a group two behind.

Koepka and Matsuyama were able to stake their claim for the title by taking advantage of ideal conditions, with calm weather and receptive greens allowing for attacking golf.

Playing the back nine first, Matsuyama jump-started his round with a 30-foot eagle putt at the par-five 18th, where he read the green perfectly and curled a sharply-breaking putt into the middle of the cup.

Koepka, two groups behind, responded by making four consecutive birdies around the turn.

Among other prominent players in the field, American Xander Schauffele, winner of the Tour Championship in Atlanta in September, carded a two-under 69, while Ryo Ishikawa battled to a 72.

Previous winners of the tournament include Tiger Woods, Ernie Els, Tom Watson and Seve Ballesteros.

(Reporting by Andrew Both in Tokyo; Editing by John O'Brien)

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