- Fireballs GC claim their second team victory of the season with a score of 34-underStandfirst 2: Koepka successfully defends Jeddah title after beating Gooch on second playoff hole
JEDDAH: Brooks Koepka (Smash GC) has successfully defended his title at 2023 LIV Golf Jeddah presented by ROSHN, securing victory with a birdie on the second playoff hole, at the 18th, to defeat Talor Gooch (RangeGoats GC), who mounted an incredible charge on Sunday to earn the 2023 individual champion title.
Gooch clinched the season’s Individual Champion title thanks to his final-round score of eight-under par (62). Bryson DeChambeau, the captain of Crushers GC, fell to fourth place in the season standings after posting a level-par final round in Jeddah, eventually finishing in 16th place. Cam Smith, captain of Ripper GC, secured the second spot in the overall season standings, while Koepka advanced to third, thanks to his victory this week.
Other notable developments in the standings included Scott Vincent’s (Ironheads GC) impressive fourth-place finish at LIV Golf Jeddah, thanks to a final round score of 66, which meant he finished 22nd in the standings and secured his LIV Golf status for the 2024 season. Additionally, Richard Bland of Cleeks GC had a strong week, finishing 14th in Jeddah and guaranteeing his place in the LIV Golf League for the upcoming season.
At the bottom end of the season standings, Jed Morgan (Ripper GC), James Piot (HyFlyers GC), Chase Koepka (Smash GC), and Sihwan Kim (Ironheads GC) found themselves in the drop zone. To regain their status for the 2024 LIV Golf league, they will need to participate in the promotion event during the off-season, in which three players will have the opportunity to qualify.
In the team event this weekend, it was Fireballs GC captained by Sergio Garcia who cruised to victory, finishing the week at 34-under par, three shots ahead of RangeGoats GC and five ahead of Cleeks GC, which recorded their first podium finish of the season in Jeddah.
Heading into next week’s team championship in Miami, the team standings show 2022 team champions 4Aces GC with a slim lead (192 points), followed by Crushers GC (186), Torque GC (183) and RangeGoats GC (179) occupying the top four places. The top four automatically advance to the semifinals at the LIV Golf Team Championship, setting the stage for an exciting conclusion to the 2023 season.
