2024 Season in Review: Smash GC

11th in a series of stories reviewing the 2024 season for each of the 13 LIV Golf League teams.

Previous reviews: 4Aces | Cleeks | Crushers | Fireballs | HyFlyers | Iron Heads | Legion XIII | Majesticks | RangeGoats | Ripper

SMASH GC QUICK REVIEW

TEAM

The new-look lineup, which added 2023 Individual Champion Talor Gooch and major winner Graeme McDowell, spent the regular season as one of the league’s powerhouses. A win early in Vegas, a win late in Greenbrier, and three other podium results in between. But it all came crashing down in Dallas. After suffering a quarterfinal upset, it was even worse on the final day, with Smash finishing last by eight strokes. A shocking end to an otherwise solid season.

PLAYERS (final points ranking)

Brooks Koepka (5): Won two individual titles to bring his LIV Golf career total to five, the most victories by any player. Maximized his few chances to win, as he wasn’t consistently competitive. Blame his putter for the rollercoaster campaign. And yes, we’re still trying to figure out that final round in Dallas.

Talor Gooch (10): It was going to be difficult to match his incredible 2023 season in which he won three tournaments and the season-long title. While he didn’t return to the winner’s circle, he was the team’s most consistent performer with 10 points finishes.  A sneaky-good year.

Jason Kokrak (22): Posted his best LIV finish with a solo third in Greenbrier but was a bit all over the map in terms of results. His putter/short game struggled to get untracked.

Graeme McDowell (29): Had his best finish in terms of the season-long standings, justifying Koepka’s faith in acquiring him as a free agent. Missing Greenbrier was a blow to his Lock Zone chances but overall, he shored up the No. 4 spot in the lineup.

TEAM OVERVIEW

Wins: 2
Podiums: 5
Points Finishes: 10
Seed: 4th
Team Championship: 13th

COUNTING SCORES (league ranking)

Round 1: 80 under (T7)
Round 2: 110 under (3rd)
Round 3: 77 under (5th)
Total: 267 under (5th)

HIGHLIGHTS

• One of four teams to claim multiple tournament titles in 2024

• Tied LIV Golf team scoring record of 53 under in winning at Greenbrier

• Koepka’s two wins give him five career LIV Golf individual victories, most of any player

• Koepka defeated Legion XIII Captain Jon Rahm on first hole of Greenbrier playoff

• With 5 top 10s this season, Gooch now has 14 career top 10s in his LIV Golf career

• Kokrak’s solo 3rd in Greenbrier is his best individual LIV Golf result

• McDowell finished a career-best 29th in season-long points

TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS

Quarterfinals: Lost to Iron Heads 2-1. Koepka defeated Na, 6 and 5. Gooch lost to Lee, 1 up. Kokrak-McDowell lost to Kozuma-Vincent, 19 holes.

Finals (Tier 3): 13th at 12 over. Gooch 71, McDowell 71, Kokrak 78, Koepka 80.

REGULAR-SEASON RESULTS

LEAGUE RANKINGS