By Matt Smith
Twenty-one holes on the course that felt like 16 in the ring…
The floodlights came on in Jeddah and the three-day finale to the inaugural individual LIV Golf season served up a cracker as two Smash teammates slugged it out long past the scheduled final bell to find out who would join the likes of Dustin Johnson, Cameron Smith and Henrik Stenson as individual tournament winners over the seven competitions.
Brooks Koepka and Peter Uihlein had spent most of Saturday going toe-to-toe, responding to one slug with another before Uihlein’s eagle-birdie finish gave him a one-stroke advantage going into the final round at Royal Greens.
However, the American was on the ropes early on Sunday, dropping to the canvas with dropped shots — three in the opening three holes — but each time he picked himself up and picked off other hopefuls such as Sergio Garcia, Paul Casey, Matthew Wolff and 2022 LIV Golf title holder DJ himself to emerge as the last man standing against Smash teammate and captain Koepka to go into a captivating showdown against his longtime friend and former roommate.
Ahead of the Team Championship in Miami at Trump National Doral from October 28-30 where the teams — rather than the players themselves — show what they are worth in the groundbreaking $50 million event, this was an extra-time duel under the lights at Royal Greens.
Brooks Koepka defeated Smash teammate Peter Uihlein on the third playoff hole at Jeddah. LIV Golf
The curtain finally came down in the dusk at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club on the third playoff hole when skipper Koepka birdied to capture his first LIV Golf individual title and his first worldwide win in 20 months. In addition, his Smash team, also including Brooks’ brother Chase and Jason Kokrak, won their first team title of the season by six strokes over Fireballs, last week’s winner in Bangkok, something that could prove vital ahead of Miami.
Despite the $4.75 million pay day that came with the win, skipper Koepka was looking to Doral to help Smash to the Team Championship title.
“Honestly, to me the big thing today was getting the team win,” said an exhausted-looking Koepka, who shot a final-round 69 to finish regulation at 12-under with Uihlein. “I told my brother [Chase] I’d buy him a Lambo if we won the team thing, so I’ve got to go by one.”
The Smash team celebrate in Jeddah. LIV Golf
With the win, Smash GC finish fifth in the season-long team standings. While the top four will receive day-one byes at the Miami Team Championship, Smash get to choose their opponent for the first day of match play.
“I kept thinking about it all week,” Koepka said. “Being able to pick who we are going to play is going to be important. We’re excited for Miami.”
More: How the LIV Team finale in Miami works
Sunday’s playoff was the second of the inaugural LIV Golf season, with Dustin Johnson winning in dramatic fashion in Boston with an eagle on the first playoff hole. It took three playoff holes, all at the par-5 18th, to determine the winner in Jeddah.
After Koepka and Uihlein each birdied the 18th in regulation — eliminating the hopes of Sergio and Joaquin Niemann, who had finished at 11-under — they each produced birdies in the first two playoff holes. Uihlein, in particular, showed off some skillful wedge play to set up his tap-in birdie putts in the humid Jeddah heat.
But on the third playoff hole, Uihlein’s luck ran out, as his third shot from a greenside bunker flew past the pin and rolled into the water. After Uihlein missed his chip for par, Koepka rolled in his birdie putt with the skies darkening further.
“It’s always fun battling against your friends, and I think it’s special,” Koepka said of Uihlein. “Pete is knocking on the door.”
Financially, it was a bittersweet result for Uihlein. A victory would have given him not only the $4 million tournament prize but also second place in the season-long Individual Champion final standings, with the bonus prize of $8 million. Instead, he won (just!) $2.125 million for finishing second, and $4 million for finishing third in the season-long race (in addition to his $750,000 share of the $3 million team victory).
“Consolation,” said Uihlein, “Still a good chunk of change.”
In keeping with the team camaraderie that makes LIV Golf so unique, pals and teammates Koepka and Uihlein were first to congratulate each other on the 18th (fourth time around on Sunday) and celebrate a team win.
“It is pretty cool,” Koepka said. “We’ve known each other for so long. That’s what you want to do, right? You want to compete with some of your very good friends, go toe-to-toe. This team thing has revived me.”
Final team standings
- The top four teams in points receive day-one byes and will select their opponents on day two.
- 4 Aces GC, 152 points
- Crushers GC, 96 points
- Fireballs GC, 93 points
- Stinger GC, 72 points
- Teams finishing 5th through 8th will select, in order of finish, their opponents for day one.
- Smash GC, 62 points
- Majesticks GC, 61 points
- Torque GC, 38 points
- Hy Flyers GC, 37 points
- Iron Heads GC, 32 points
- Cleeks GC, 21 points
- Punch GC, 16 points
- Niblicks GC, 13 points
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