Tag: Smash GC

Dustin Johnson wins 2024 LIV Golf Las Vegas; Brooks Koepka’s Smash GC take team title

The win is the third of Johnson’s LIV Golf career.

LIV Golf made a bold decision to host an event in Las Vegas the same week as the Super Bowl.

While the league’s second start of 2024 was largely overshadowed by the big game between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers, Saturday’s final round at Las Vegas Country Club was a tasty Super Bowl appetizer for sports fans with a knack for the chaotic.

Six players were tied for the lead at 10 under with three holes to play, but in the end it was Dustin Johnson who emerged victorious. The 39-year-old won 2024 LIV Golf Las Vegas at 12 under par following a 1-under 69 in the final round. The win is Johnson’s third since joining LIV Golf and is his third victory in as many years with the league. His first came at the LIV Golf Invitational Boston in 2022 and his last came at LIV Golf Tulsa in 2023.

“I knew it was going to be tough obviously with the conditions. But a lot of really good players were right around the lead,” Johnson said of his final round. “I knew I was going to have to play well if I wanted to win. Obviously making a clutch birdie there on 17 to give me a one-shot lead, then obviously did a great job at 18 and just had the two-putt for the victory.”

Talor Gooch (Smash GC) finished T-2 at 11 under alongside Peter Uihlein (RangeGoats GC), both of whom were previously traded by Johnson. Uihlein’s teammate Matthew Wolff finished fourth at 10 under, with three players tied for fifth: Graeme McDowell (Smash GC), Jason Kokrak (Smash GC) and Paul Casey (Crushers GC).

The team competition was close until the back nine, where Brooks Koepka’s Smash GC ran away with the trophy at 33 under, seven shots clear of runner-up 4Aces GC, captained by Johnson, at 26 under. Bubba Watson’s RangeGoats GC finished third at 24 under.

The league returns to action March 1-3 at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club with 2024 LIV Golf Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.

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Brooks Koepka’s Smash GC make surprise signing during LIV Golf offseason

Koepka replaced a relegated player with one who was lucky to keep his LIV Golf League spot for 2024.

Brooks Koepka’s brother, Chase, was relegated from the LIV Golf League for the 2024 season after finishing 48th in the season-long standings during the 2023 season.

How did Brooks replace his struggling brother? By signing Graeme McDowell, who finished just three spots clear of relegation in 42nd last season. McDowell finished inside the top 20 just three times in 2023 and spent the vast majority of the year in the back half of the 48-player fields. The 44-year-old won four times on the PGA Tour and earned 11 victories on the DP World Tour. His greatest triumph came in 2010 at the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach.

Smash GC made a quick exit during the 2023 LIV Golf Team Championship and Koepka’s first signing doesn’t begin to address his squad’s problems. He still has Matthew Wolff on the roster, a player he publicly criticized on multiple occasions last season, and McDowell is virtually the same caliber of player as the one he’s replacing. Simply put, Brooks and Jason Kokrak, the fourth member of the team, aren’t good enough to carry the squad in 2024.

There’s still time for Koepka to trade Wolff, but after his critical comments, he shouldn’t expect much of a return for the 24-year-old former college star who has struggled with consistency since making the jump to professional golf.

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Brooks Koepka takes another shot at Matthew Wolff at LIV Golf Jeddah: ‘There’s only 3 of us on our team’

Safe to say, Wolff won’t be back with Smash GC next season. 

Brooks Koepka isn’t one to mince words.

Koepka, the defending champion at LIV Golf Jeddah, has a three-shot lead over Sergio Garcia and Charles Howell III heading into the final round in King Abdullah Economic City in Saudi Arabia. He has talked following both of his rounds this week, but it’s what he said after Friday’s opening 18 at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club that is peak Koepka.

Koepka was asked a question about the brotherhood of his Smash GC team, which includes his brother, Chase Koepka, along with Jason Kokrak and Matthew Wolff. However, Koepka’s answer makes it seem he has a different view of his team.

“There’s only three of us on our team,” Koepka said. “I mean, obviously my brother, I’m pretty tight with him, and then — I’ve enjoyed being around Jay for the last — I’ve been pretty close with Jay for maybe the last three years. I’ve enjoyed being around him. He’s a good player, super talented. It’s been fun to be around him, and he’s played pretty solid this year. Yeah, I can’t say anything bad about him.”

Wolff? Not mentioned.

In July, Koepka called out Wolff’s work ethic and attitude. In return, Wolff questioned Koepka’s leadership.

This week, Wolff is T-42 at 1 over. He has only one finish better than 34th since LIV Golf Adelaide in April, a fifth at the Greenbrier. He’s also 25th in the season-long points race, meaning he can be traded or released from his team during the offseason transfer period.

Safe to say, Wolff won’t be back with Smash GC next season.