Talor Gooch lost out to Bubba Watson for the LIV Golf Jeddah title in a dramatic playoff on Sunday — but he was the happiest loser you will ever see on a golf course.

The 31-year-old American already had three titles during 13-tournament 2023 LIV Golf League season and, for a while, it looked like he was going to bag No. 4. But he was pegged back by Royal Greens Golf & Country Club master Brooks Koepka and, after finding the water, was edged out on the second extra hole by the defending champion.

Second place would have to do this time around.

The runners-up cheque for $2.25 million would have normally soothed the pain somewhat, but Gooch was on cloud nine as his second-place finish was good enough to overtake Cameron Smith and secure the season-long Individual Championship crown and the $18 million bonus that came with that achievement.

Reflecting on his sensational season — and a final-round 62 that was enough to take the title — Gooch said: “Man, it’s awesome. From January 1 until now, that’s what we’ve been working for, so to get here and to be the champion, man, I’m proud, I’m honoured, and I’m excited.”

Gooch’s eight-under on Sunday was the lowest score of the day and matched the record for the week. But underneath his calm exterior, he was a bundle of nerves.

“I was nervous as could be all night last night and all morning today, and we got to the first tee, and I knocked it on the green, made a 30-footer, and I just settled in,” he said, grinning from ear to ear. “It was a very, very stressful day, very exciting day, but man, my caddie and I just did a great job of staying in the moment and just executing.

“It was a day that you dream of for the score and the moment and all of it, so it was a special, special day.”

The American seems to love life on the road with wins in Adelaide, Singapore, Andalucía and then a second place in Saudi Arabia.

“Man, I’ve got no idea,” he said of his international successes. “It helps having a caddie from Australia that’s travelled the world as a professional and as a caddie, as well. We just have great routines on the road, and the golf courses have fit us. It’s been a great international 2023 for us.

“You know, I didn’t come into this day thinking about winning a golf tournament. It’s easy for your mind to just say, let’s just go have a good day and solidify the Individual Championship, and then after nine holes, I was only one or two back, and I was feeling good, and the putter was hot. I was like: ‘Let’s go win a golf tournament.’

“It was a little bit bittersweet at the end not being able to get that done. But all day you’re looking at the scoreboard and seeing where you are compared to everyone [in the Individual Championship].”

Gooch also knows that his $18 million is going to a good home.

“My wife and I have a foundation that we started, and first and foremost it’s going to do a lot of good back home for a lot of kids,” he said. “That’s going to be the focus.”

With a field that includes 13 major winners among the 48 outstanding players, Gooch also feels he has truly earned his title.

“It’s special,” he said. “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.”