Talor Gooch’s LIV Andalucia win puts him in Ryder Cup conversation

Talor Gooch had confidence in spades, winning LIV Andalucia with a birdie-birdie 67 finish at 12 under to become the only LIV player to now hold three titles.

Talor Gooch brought the drama by snatching victory out from under Bryson DeChambeau with birdies on the 17th and 18th holes. With the win at the Valderrama Golf Course in Andalucia, Spain, Gooch becomes the first player to win three titles with the LIV golf league.

“Last year I didn’t get a win, so this year I was just so focused on getting an individual win,” said Gooch, who retains the lead in the Individual Champion race at LIV, which comes with a whopping $18M bonus if he tops those standings at the end of the season.

“You don’t think much past the first one until you get the first one. I definitely didn’t have three in mind for the season, but it’s cool that we’re here, and it’s especially cool to have the third one here at Valderrama.”

Bryson DeChambeau came close to collecting his first LIV title

Bryson DeChambeau was going for his first win in the LIV field and he made a strong run up until the dramatic last few holes. The Crushers GC captain took the spotlight from RangeGoat’s Gooch with a spectacular eagle at the end of the second round.

https://twitter.com/livgolf_league/status/1675181296035807232

At the start of the final day, DeChambeau was leading by two strokes. However, Gooch managed to regain the momentum once he reached the back nine, hitting birdies on the 10th and 13th holes. DeChambeau matched him on the 17th hole, but Gooch’s awesome birdie on the 18th sealed the deal, along with the $4M victory payout.

However, for the 2020 U.S. Open winner DeChambeau, it was a battle until the very end.

“I just didn’t hit it well on the back nine today,” DeChambeau said. “I didn’t hit it as well as yesterday… But I am finally getting back to where I can play and compete under pressure consistently.”

Talor Gooch’s streak at LIV should make him a major contender for a Ryder Cup pick

Gooch had previously triumphed in back-to-back LIV tournaments in Australia and Singapore.

Gooch’s win at Andalucia is the first LIV event after the announcement of the merger of the PGA, DP World, and LIV League with the backing of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.

Gooch has already qualified for the next major, The Open at Royal Liverpool. There is also a groundswell of support for him to take up one of the remaining six captain’s picks for the Ryder Cup U.S. team. The same can be said for the LIV Andalucia third place finisher, Brooks Koepka, who holds two LIV titles. It will be interesting to see what kind of influence the new merger, the exemplary performance of LIV golfers at the majors, and the multiple LIV title bearers will have on Ryder Cup developments.

With the merger, it seems that peace has permeated out to the players and the golf community, which is great for everyone in the sport.

The Ryder Cup takes place in Rome, Italy three months from now.

The next LIV event will happen in England at LIV Golf London, July 7-9, at Centurion Club in Hertfordshire.