Talor Gooch proves he’s one of the best with back-to-back LIV Golf titles

Talor Gooch became the first golfer to win back-to-back LIV Golf tournaments, beating Sergio Garcia in a playoff in Singapore. 

Talor Gooch is on a hot streak and will be a huge factor at the next major, the PGA Championship, in Rochester, NY, taking place in just a few weeks. Of the past six rounds of a LIV event, Gooch has either led or shared the top position, and he’s accomplished that nine times, a record for the tour.

Along with Brooks Koepka, he and Gooch are the only two-time LIV tournament winners. Koepka was able to maintain his momentum heading into The Masters after his latest LIV win, tying for second along with Phil Mickelson. Can Gooch do the same at the PGA? It’s possible.

Talor Gooch takes big LIV Golf momentum into PGA Championship after back-to-back wins

It had been a race between 31-year-old Gooch and 43-year-old Sergio Garcia all day long on the final outing of LIV Golf Singapore, with both players ending up with 17-under to get set for the playoff.

“It’s one of those days that I’ll remember,” Gooch said afterwards, winning the playoff with a birdie on the par-five 18th hole, against one of his childhood heroes, according to ESPN. “I grew up watching Sergio. He’s one of the greatest golfers of this generation. To go and battle with him and come out on top is something I’ll never forget.”

It was a double win for Gooch, whose team, the RangeGoats GC were also victorious, adding an extra $3 million shared team payment to the American’s pot, which combined with his win at Adelaide, makes his total compensation for the last eight days a cool $9.1 million.

“We’ve been talking about being up there on the podium,” Gooch said. “I’ve been telling them how much I’m going to spray ‘em in the face with champagne for a long time now. We knew it was coming and it was only a matter of time.”

The next LIV event will take place in his home state of Oklahoma, at the Cedar Ridge Country Club in Tulsa, beginning May 12. Gooch is sure to receive a hero’s welcome heading there. It will also serve as a stepping stone to the next major, the PGA Championship, taking place the following week. LIV players already proved a strong showing at The Masters, taking half of the top four spots. Gooch finished T34 in Augusta.

“It was cool this morning waking up and seeing an invite from the PGA of America,” Gooch said after receiving the PGA Championship invitation while at the LIV Singapore event on Friday, via Golf Digest. “It’s going to be a fun week, and it’s cool that they recognize the body of work and gave me a spot in the field.”

Sadly, due to a last-minute USGA rules change, Gooch was left out of the field of the next major after the PGA, the U.S. Open, a decision that did not sit well with the LIV winner.

“That was obviously disappointing because that changed rule only affected one person, which was me,” Gooch said during the 73rd Hole Podcast, via Golf Digest. “So that was frustrating and tough because with LIV still not being rewarded with World Ranking points, I have only two options to qualify for the U.S. Open: via my World Ranking, which is going to be very challenging, or trying to obviously go through the qualifying route of sectional qualifying.”

Gooch’s phenomenal level of play and the performance of the LIV players is continuing the debate about the OWGR points, which isn’t going away anytime soon. I don’t see how the governing body of the OWGR can keep ignoring the issue.

“There’s nobody around professional golf that doesn’t understand how good Talor Gooch is … not just our own team or our own league,” RangeGoats GC team captain Bubba Watson said.

No doubt Talor Gooch’s performance will continue to fuel the debate of LIV Golf, the majors and world ranking points.

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