Koepka edges LIV’s year-long champ Gooch
Talor Gooch made 123 starts on the PGA Tour, picked up one win and earned $9,250,299.
On Sunday he nearly doubled that amount in Saudi Arabia at LIV Golf Jeddah.
The 31-year-old claimed the 2023 LIV Golf League individual title, a seasonlong points race similar to that of the FedExCup. Gooch surpassed Cameron Smith and held off Bryson DeChambeau, the only two other players who had a chance to win the lucrative bonus, and will take home the $18 million prize.
Gooch and Brooks Koepka went to a playoff Sunday at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club in King Abdullah Economic City, where Koepka won after two extra holes. The playoff outcome didn’t matter, however, as Gooch had already secured the individual title regardless of the outcome.
Dustin Johnson was the individual champion in LIV’s inaugural eightevent season last year, where he already had the title locked up before the final regular-season event.
Across 13 events this season Gooch has won three times and picked up five top-10 finishes worth $15,137,066 in individual earnings.
The win Sunday is the third of Koepka’s LIV career and second of the season following his victory in Orlando before the Masters in April.
Sergio Garcia’s Fireballs GC claimed the team title in Saudi Arabia at 34 under ($3 million), three shots clear of Bubba Watson’s RangeGoats GC ($1.5 million) and five clear of Martin Kaymer’s Cleeks GC ($500,000). The win is the second of the season for the Fireballs.
LIV’s season closes this week as it hosts the Team Championship finale at Trump National Doral in Miami.