Talor Gooch becomes first player in LIV Golf history to win back-to-back titles

In what would be another embarrassing week for the Official World Golf Ranking, American Talor Gooch became the first player in the short history of LIV Golf to win back-to-back individual titles, defeating Sergio Garcia in a battle that looked more like a boxing match than a round of golf.

The 18 holes on Sunday, and even the 54 holes this week, were not enough to separate the two as they matched each other blow for blow. At the end of regulation play, both players were tied at the top on 17-under-par 199, thus needing extra holes to decide the champion.

Garcia’s resolve finally wavered on the first extra hole. He pushed his second shot slightly into the greenside bunker, from where he could not make his up and down. Gooch, on the other hand, hit two glorious shots to reach the heart of the par-5 18th green, and two-putted for a birdie to claim the $4 million first place check.

Last week, after winning the LIV Golf Adelaide title, Gooch fell two places in the OWGR to No. 59. The slide will continue in the absence of any points this week as well, despite the fact that he soared above some of the biggest names in the sport.

The 31-year-old from Midwest City, Oklahoma, and Spain’s Garcia started the day at 13-under. Gooch made three birdies and a bogey in his first four holes to be two-under at that stage. Garcia replied with two birdies to move to 15-under as well.

On the eighth hole, Gooch made a terrific birdie from 25 feet, while Garcia needed to save par from 15 feet to prevent a two-shot swing. He then quickly nullified the advantage by making another 15-footer on the ninth hole, this time for birdie.

There seemed an opening for Gooch when Garcia missed a four-footer for par on the 12th hole for bogey, but he