CAPTAIN KOEPKA CONQUERS JEDDAH – AND THE 18TH HOLE – AGAIN

He’s also getting quite comfortable making birdie on the par-5 18th, a key component to his success at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club.

Koepka successfully defended his LIV Golf Jeddah title on Sunday, beating RangeGoats GC’s Talor Gooch on the second playoff hole. Last year, he defeated then-Smash teammate Peter Uihlein on the third playoff hole.

In each instance, Koepka birdied the 18th every time in regulation and the playoff. That means he’s 7-for-7 in birdies made at 18 the last two Sundays at LIV Golf Jeddah.

“I don’t think anybody has played the 18th hole more than I have,” Koepka said.

It’s worth it, especially since Koepka’s victory also vaulted him into third place in the season-long Individual Champion standings. He had started the week in fifth place, but his 40 points for the win were enough to slip past Crushers GC Captain Bryson DeChambeau.

The reward is a $4 million bonus. Add in the $4 million tournament winner’s check, and that means Koepka earned $8 million on Sunday.

“I really didn’t think I had a chance,” said Koepka, who wasn’t aware of the third-place points finish until informed on the 18th green after his tournament win. “I don’t know how many points Bryson had to have or to get, but I felt like I had to win, and I did my part. That’s all I can do. …

“Super fortunate to kind of squeak in there. It’s a good day.”

Koepka entered the final round with a three-shot lead and extended it as much as four strokes before being caught by Gooch down the stretch. Koepka had just one birdie in his first 15 holes but birdied the 16th and 18th holes to force the playoff.

He then birdied the first playoff hole and found the green with his second shot on the second playoff hole. That set up a two-putt birdie while Gooch couldn’t recover after finding the water with his approach shot.

“With that hole, you know how Brooks is playing,” Gooch said. “You know that birdie is probably not going to win there. I was trying to win a golf tournament. It was close, but Brooks played great and got the job done.”

Said the Smash captain: “Talor has been playing so well the whole year, all week. He played a hell of a round today. I just felt … you had to make birdie, maybe even a 3 just to beat him.”

A year ago when Koepka won, it was an emotional moment after injuries left him wondering if he would ever get back to world-class form.

Now he’s won three times in 2023 – LIV Golf events in Orlando and Jeddah, as well as the PGA Championship for his fifth major win. Sunday was a different kind of feeling for Koepka, who recently became a dad for the first time after the birth of his son Crew.

“I definitely feel like I’m back to my old self,” Koepka said. “This one is probably a little different just because it’s the first win as a dad. I’m sure Jena and Crew are watching. He won’t remember that one, but at least I’ve got something to say, that I did win while he was here.”

As a team, Smash finished seventh on the leaderboard and will be seeded eighth going into next week’s Team Championship in Miami.