SINGAPORE (AP) – Talor Gooch became the first player to win back-to-back LIV Golf titles after a playoff hole victory against Sergio Garcia at the LIV Singapore tournament at Sentosa Golf Club on Sunday.
Gooch and Garcia shadowed each other for most of the first two rounds and the final round was no different, with both the American and Spaniard never more than a stroke apart as they finished 17-under 196 to secure a play-off. off to force.
On the first playoff hole, the par-5 18th, Gooch went past the water hazard with his tee shot, but played a near-perfect second shot into the heart of the green, where he easily two-putted for a birdie.
Garcia’s second shot on the playoff hole found the bunker at the green and the Spaniard was unable to make his birdie, giving Gooch his second straight win and a $4 million prize.
It is Gooch’s ninth time leading or sharing a lead after a LIV round, the most of any player. He has now shared or shared the lead in the last six laps.
“It’s one of those days I’ll remember,” Gooch said. “I grew up watching Sergio. He is one of the greatest golfers of this generation. I will never forget to compete with him and come out on top.”
Two-time LIV Golf tournament winner Brooks Koepka shot 67 to finish third at 16-under 197, one shot ahead of Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent (67), who briefly threatened to make it a four-way battle for the title before a bogey on the par -4 15th stopped its momentum.
British Open champion Cam Smith (71) tied for sixth after mixing regular birdies with bogeys for an even final round and an aggregate score of 12-under 201.
Phil Mickelson shot a 72, with two double bogeys on his last round, and dropped down the leaderboard to a tie for 13th place.
Like the first round, the final round was delayed over an hour on Sunday after 13 holes of the shotgun format due to severe weather in the area.
Garcia, who started his round on the first hole with Gooch in the shotgun starting format, made birdie on three of the first nine holes to keep the lead with the American, who had four birdies and a bogey for nine consecutive pars .
Garcia won the 2018 Singapore Open at Sentosa and had played bogey-free golf in the first 47 holes, but two bogeys on the par-4 12th and 15th hampered his attempts to win again here.
On the par-5 18th in regulation, Gooch had a 41-foot putt for the eagle that narrowly missed on the left side of the cup. The 31-year-old American easily made his birdie to put pressure on Garcia again.
The Spaniard responded by quietly making a birdie from 3 meters to force the play-off.
The next event is May 12 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
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