It’s been a rollercoaster of a year for Smash GC, with both Brooks Koepka and Talor Gooch less than thrilled with their individual performances in 2024.
But as the LIV Golf season heads into its final stretch, the duo—and their team—might be gearing up for a serious surge.
Gooch, who claimed the Individual Champion title in 2023, rediscovered his form at LIV Golf Greenbrier on Friday.
He fired a bogey-free 7-under 63, sharing the first-round lead with teammate Jason Kokrak and Torque GC’s Sebastián Muñoz.
Koepka, meanwhile, is just a stroke behind, sitting in a five-way tie for fourth after carding a 64. This was a day marked by an 80-minute weather delay, but it didn’t dampen Smash GC’s momentum.
With Gooch, Kokrak, and Koepka all contributing to the team’s score, Smash GC surged to a commanding four-shot lead over Ripper GC and Legion XIII on the team leaderboard.
Their 20-under total ties the season’s best counting score in the first two rounds, where three scores are tallied.
“It’s always good to have a day where golf is easy,” said Gooch, reflecting on his flawless round, where he hit all 18 greens in regulation and even holed out for an eagle at the par-4 fifth.
“Golf hasn’t been as easy this year as it was last year, so hopefully we can have a couple more easy days coming up.”
Last season, Gooch was nearly unstoppable, racking up three tournament victories on his way to the season-long championship.
This year, however, has been a different story. His best finish was a tie for second at Las Vegas in the season’s second event, and Friday was only the second time he’s shared a lead.
Despite being out of the running for back-to-back Individual titles, Gooch still has an outside chance to break into the top 3, entering the week ranked 11th in points.
“It’s been a bit of a disappointing year, but you’re just trying to get better,” Gooch admitted.
“You’re trying to capture the good golf and make it last as long as possible. We haven’t been able to capture much good golf this year, but that’s why you’ve got to put the work in and just know that it’s going to pay off.”
Koepka, who added a fourth career LIV title to his resume with a win in Singapore this past May, has also faced his share of struggles.
He failed to contend in any of this year’s majors and currently sits 10th in points, ruling him out of the individual title race. Yet, like Gooch, he’s still eyeing a top-3 finish.
“This year has not been great,” Koepka said candidly. “This year has been actually very disappointing.
I haven’t played anywhere what I want to play. Played absolutely horrible in all the majors and only won once out here, so that’s not anywhere where I want it.”
Smash GC, currently ranked seventh in points, has one team victory under its belt this season from Las Vegas.
With a strong finish at Greenbrier, they could claw their way into a top-three seed, which would secure them a bye for the Dallas Team Championship.
Kokrak’s 63 was key to their solid start, while reserve player John Catlin stepped up with a 66, filling in for Graeme McDowell.
“Golf is a fickle game,” Kokrak reflected. “It’s hard to be consistent all the time.
This year I kind of started off … solid but not great, and then kind of just fell into a little bit of a slump. I think I found something nice in my golf swing the last week or two.”
Friday’s round marked the 100th competition day in LIV Golf history, a milestone filled with changes and new faces since the league’s inception.
Only one team—Stinger GC in 2022—has ever swept the podium in LIV Golf history. Smash GC would love to join that elite club this weekend.
“These are the types of days you wish you could have more of,” Gooch said. “Hopefully we can have another couple easy days this weekend.”
Muñoz Eyes the Lock Zone
Sebastián Muñoz of Torque GC started the week ranked 25th in the season-long points race, placing him just outside the coveted top 24 Lock Zone, which guarantees a spot in the 2025 LIV Golf League season.
But Muñoz made his intentions clear on Friday by matching the day’s best score of 7-under 63, positioning himself well within striking distance.
“A big week here, a big result would put me in, and just kind of own my own destiny, which is always nice,” Muñoz stated, emphasising his determination. “That’s a big motivator. Looking forward for the rest of the week.”
After an early bogey at the par-4 seventh, Muñoz rebounded with a birdie at the ninth and caught fire, racking up five birdies in six holes.
“Ball-striking was great,” Muñoz said, still seeking his first individual LIV Golf title. “I was in the fairway a lot. I was on the greens a lot. I gave myself three really close putts for birdie, which is always nice, and just rolled it.”
Individual Race Update
Torque GC Captain Joaquin Niemann, in his quest to clinch the 2024 Individual Championship, opened with a 3-under 67, placing him in a tie for 20th. His primary rival, Legion XIII Captain Jon Rahm, posted a 64 and is tied for fourth.
If Niemann can secure a win this week, Rahm would need to finish second to keep the championship race alive heading into the final regular season event in Chicago.
However, Rahm, fresh off a victory at LIV Golf’s previous tournament in the UK, is keeping his focus on the immediate task.
“Still a long way to go before thinking of the individual championship,” he remarked.
DeChambeau Opens with Another 68
Bryson DeChambeau, who made history last year with an incredible weekend at Greenbrier after an opening 68, matched that score again on Friday.
He’s tied for 24th, echoing his position from a year ago before his remarkable 61-58 finish that led to his first LIV Golf individual title.
One-Bogey Teams Dominate
Smash GC and Ripper GC put on a clinic with both teams recording just one bogey across their lineups. Gooch (64), Koepka (64), and John Catlin (66) of Smash had bogey-free rounds, with Kokrak (63) the lone exception.
Ripper’s Matt Jones (64), Lucas Herbert (65), and Marc Leishman (65) followed suit, while Captain Cameron Smith (66) recorded the team’s only bogey.
In total, 11 players carded bogey-free rounds on Friday, with just nine finishing over par.
Campbell Steps In for Majesticks
New Zealand’s Ben Campbell stepped up for Majesticks GC, replacing Sam Horsfield, who withdrew due to a foot injury.
Campbell, making his third LIV appearance as a reserve but first as a starter, shot a 1-over 71. Horsfield, sitting on the bubble at 24th in the standings, will be closely monitoring his status.
Howell Returns to Action
Crushers GC’s Charles Howell III returned after a four-tournament absence due to a leg injury, shooting a 1-over 73 in his comeback round.
Round 2 Tee Time Adjusted
With weather potentially threatening play, Saturday’s second-round shotgun start has been moved up by two hours to 11:15 a.m. EDT.
Fans can still catch all the action, with LIVGolf+ coverage starting at 1 p.m. EDT on The CW.
