Brooks Koepka’s resurgent 2023 has come complete circle after effectively protecting his LIV Golf Jeddah crown with a playoff victory over Talor Gooch at 14 beneath. Koepka’s victory marks his 3rd as a member of LIV Golf and his fourth international since reentering the winner’s circle at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club closing season. His 2022 win broke a 20-month drought that has since became a deluge.
“Anytime you can win, it’s always a good feeling,” stated Koepka. “Super proud of the way I played today. Felt like I was hitting good putts. They weren’t falling, and then it was just a matter of being patient and hanging in there. To make that eight-footer on 18 in regulation and then to birdie it twice in the playoff is pretty neat. Very pleased with the way I finished.”
The five-time main champion surged forward because of a second-round 62 and held a three-stroke lead in a single day. Gooch returned the want Sunday with a 62 of his personal and compelled Koepka to hollow snatch birdie efforts on Nos. 16 and 18 to pressure a playoff for the second one consecutive 12 months.
After each avid gamers made birdie at the first enjoying of the par-5 18th, the 2 went again to the tee for the second one playoff hollow. This time, it used to be most effective Koepka that will stroll off the fairway with a birdie and every other trophy in hand.
“I definitely feel like I’m back to my old self,” stated Koepka. “This one is probably a little different just because it’s the first win as a dad. I’m sure Jena and Crew are watching. He won’t remember that one, but at least I’ve got something to say, that I did win while he was here.”
Not all is misplaced for Gooch, who claimed the season-long crown along with his play at LIV Golf Jeddah. Entering the week trailing Cameron Smith, Gooch’s playoff defeat used to be sufficient to leapfrog the Australian and win the person race. Gooch’s reign over the 2023 season comes courtesy of a league-best 3 victories, with Smith and Koepka rounding out the rostrum.
“It’s special,” stated Gooch. “Again, I’ve always felt that I was good enough to be a professional golfer and play against the best in the world. Now to be here to, I think, consider myself one of the best in the world, it’s what I’ve been dreaming about since I was nine years old. To get to this point in my career and to have this validating of a season, yeah, words can’t describe how much it means and just how satisfying it is.”
The smiles prevent there for contributors of LIV Golf. Chase Koepka, Jediah Morgan, James Piot and Sihwan Kim have been the 4 full-time non-captains to be relegated because of their efficiency in 2023. They can have a possibility to earn their long ago into LIV Golf in promotional tournaments later this 12 months. As for now, they search to search out some shape, and briefly, with the LIV Golf Team Championship at Trump National Doral set for subsequent week.