Brooks Koepka tops Jon Rahm in heavyweight Greenbrier playoff, is first to collect 5 LIV wins

When Jon Rahm marked a mega bargain to connect LIV Golf final December, whereas he was the ruling Experts winner, he was invited to the alliance by Brooks Koepka, who tied for moment behind him at Augusta.

“Ready for more Sunday battles,” Koepka captioned a photo of the two giggling on a tee at Augusta National in a social media post.

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Rahm took a two-stroke lead into the ultimate circular at the Ancient White Course in West Virginia, but Koepka came from the clouds with a shining, seven-under 63 to wrap up 54 gaps at 19-under-par (191). Koepka’s 63 constrained a sudden-death playoff against Rahm, which begun at the par-3 18th gap. Two-time major champ Rahm, in spite of the fact that, airmailed the green with his tee shot and made intruder from an ungainly lie within the bunker whereas Koepka two-putted for the win.

It was Koepka’s fifth triumph on LIV since joining in 2022. No other LIV golfer has more than three titles.

“I think usually likely my favorite one,” Koepka said. “It’s continuously good after you fight great players. Jon may be a hell of a player. For anything reason he’s continuously got the way better of me a small bit as of late.”
But not this time.
Koepka set up his moment win on LIV this year after a triumph in Singapore in May, when he made the turn at two beneath on Sunday at Greenbrier, a previous PGA Visit have setting. The Florida local at that point made three straight birdies from the 11th and another at the par-5 17th. In the mean time, playing accomplice Rahm made four back-nine birdies, counting two of the ultimate three gaps, to post a 65. On the primary additional gap, Rahm’s long standard putt lipped out.

“It stings a small bit more than I would like it to,” Rahm said. “But there’s still clearly a part of great things to think about.”

Jason Kokrak, Koepka’s Crush GC partner, was third at 18 beneath.
Koepka’s Crush GC establishment moreover took out the group title at Greenbrier with a 53-under add up to. That was with LIV save golfer John Catlin playing as the team’s fourth in put of Graeme McDowell, who was suspended for one event for abusing LIV’s anti-doping methods by employing a Vicks nasal splash. Crush GC wrapped up three shots ahead of Cameron Smith’s Ripper GC, whereas Rahm’s Army XIII group was third.

As sweet as a triumph tastes, Koepka shook his head when inquired in case it advertised any reassurance for his destitute exhibitions at the majors this year. A year after capturing his fifth major at the 2023 PGA Championship, the 34-year-old fizzled to enlist a best 25 within the four greatest occasions this year.
“No, not at all; the majors were beautiful disappointing,” Koepka said. “I think I’ve as it were had two chances to win [on LIV this year] and I won them, but that’s not enough.”
Koepka’s motivation to carry his form into 2025—given there’s as it were one more person occasion cleared out for LIV’s 2024 season in Chicago another month—is previous world No. 1 and two-time major winner Rahm. Since joining LIV, Rahm has not wrapped up exterior the best 10 in his 11 begins (Rahm pulled back harmed from LIV Houston as well as the U.S. Open). Among those beat 10s was Rahm’s to begin with LIV win in the league’s UK occasion as of late.
“The key is really being a small bit more consistent,” Koepka said. “You see at Jon all year, he’s had, what, eight, nine events maybe where he’s best six or features a chance to win on the back nine. I think that’s what ought to happen for following year.”

While that would be great for Koepka personally, it would also be a boost to LIV to have its two best players go head-to-head in the final group more often. Or “more Sunday battles,” as the man himself put it.

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