LIV GOLF INDIVIDUAL TITLE DOWN TO SMITH, GOOCH, DECHAMBEAU
SUGAR GROVE, Ill. – The field of competitors seeking the 2023 LIV Golf Individual Champion crown is now down to three going into the regular-season finale at LIV Golf Jeddah.
Ripper GC Captain Cameron Smith, RangeGoats GC star Talor Gooch and Crushers GC Captain Bryson DeChambeau are the only golfers with a mathematical chance of claiming the title, which will be decided in Jeddah at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club on Oct. 13-15.
Those three players have combined to win seven of the first 12 regular-season tournaments and are the only ones with multiple victories this season. Gooch has three wins, while Smith and DeChambeau have each won two of the last four tournaments.
Smith tops the Individual standings with 170 points, while Gooch is at 162 points and DeChambeau at 146 points following his victory Sunday at LIV Golf Chicago.
Smith led by 21 points entering Rich Harvest Farms but failed to finish inside the top 24 that receives points. Gooch finished seventh in points in Chicago, allowing him to close the gap. DeChambeau moved from seventh to third in the standings with the win.
Smith, of course, can clinch the title by winning in Jeddah. Gooch would also clinch the title with a victory, even if Smith finishes second.
If DeChambeau wins in Jeddah, he would win the title provided Smith finishes no better than fifth or Gooch finishes no better than third.
If DeChambeau wins and Smith finishes fifth, they would both have 186 points. DeChambeau would win the tiebreaker due to more victories.
If DeChambeau wins and Gooch finishes third, they would both have 186 points. Although each would have three wins at that point, DeChambeau would claim the tiebreaker due to his next best finish, a second in Andalucia.
4Aces GC’s Patrick Reed, currently fourth in points with 121, can finish no better than third in the standings should he win in Jeddah.
Reed, Smash GC Captain Brooks Koepka, Stinger GC’s Branden Grace, 4Aces Captain Dustin Johnson and Torque GC’s Mito Pereira each have a mathematical chance to claim the third place, which is the last bonus-paying position.
Johnson won the Individual Champion title last season in LIV Golf’s debut, while Grace finished second.