It is fair to say that the second LIV Golf season already stands the test of time and will live long in the memory. 

The embryonic tour took the bold step of expanding from seven events in its first season in 2022 — doubling to 14 showdowns, with a colossal $320 million on offer to the 48 contestants before we even think about the bonus money pocketed by Talor Gooch, Cameron Smith and Brooks Koepka. 

The memories are already in the locker, but let’s take a look back at some of the pivotal moments in an amazing season.

Howell’s fast start
Charles Howell III made Mexico his home from home as he romped to the inaugural LIV Golf League crown. Mayakoba was the venue, the American only shot two holes over par, and an eight-under 63 on Sunday saw him over the line.

Jon Ferrey/LIV Golf

Brooks is back
Brooks Koepka showed he was back to his best — well before his fifth major in the PGA Championship — at the Orlando LIV event in early April as he began a landmark season in style with his second LIV crown. 

Gooch gets going
Another dawn began in Adelaide as Talor Gooch proved his former 4 Aces captain, Dustin Johnson, wrong, and vindicated his switch to Bubba Watson’s RangeGoats line-up with a convincing victory in Oz. The event also saw another Smash man, Chase Koepka, make a piece of history as he aced the ‘Watering Hole’ and was showered in beer cans for his troubles.

Montana Pritchard/LIV Golf

Back to back
Gooch showed he was no flash in the pan, going back-to-back with another win in Singapore, before DJ bit back with his own victory in Tulsa.

Going on
By the time July rolled around, Gooch had victory No. 3 and was way ahead in the points standings. Harold Varner III had registered the win in Washington DC, but Gooch proved he is the best American on the road, with the Andalucia trophy under his belt. 

Cam time
The 2022 Open Champion Cameron Smith was not going to let Gooch get everything his own way and a win in London at Centurion made things interesting as the Aussie found his stride.

Four horses
Now it was getting to business time and there were four men looking to grab the Individual title — we had Gooch, Smith and Koepka, so who else would make the grade? We arrived at Greenbrier and Bryson DeChambeau stepped up in remarkable fashion, shooting a final-day insane 58 in the rain (he even had a bogey in there) to produce one of the most iconic moments of the year, leaping like a kid as history was made. 

Scott Taetsch/LIV Golf

Cam bounces back
Smith would not go quietly and launched himself to the top of the standings with a solid win at Bedminster, for the first time making Gooch look worried, with an $18 million bonus cheque on the line.

Bryson’s boom
Chicago was the next stop and DeChambeau proved why he was a serious contender for the Ryder Cup (he did not get selected) as he convincingly bagged LIV Golf win No. 2

The final showdown
Jeddah was a match made in heaven, as Gooch and Koepka slogged it out over 54 holes. DeChambeau (fourth) and Smith (second) faded in the Individual Championship as the weekend went on and Brooks took the weekend title on the second extra hole and secured third overall. Gooch was still smiling however as he took the Individual Championship title, with the bonus money going to his foundation to help bring on the next batch of stars.

Montana Pritchard/LIV Golf

TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL RESULTS

For Sunday’s Finals, all 48 players among the 12 teams competed in one round of stroke play, with all four players’ scores counting toward their team’s score. The four semifinal winners competed for places 1-4, with the teams defeated in the semifinals competing for places 5-8. The teams defeated in Friday’s quarterfinals competed for places 9-12. Of the prize money earned by each team, 60% goes to the team, with 10% going to each of the four participating players.

TIER 1

1. CRUSHERS (-11). Anirban Lahiri 65, Bryson DeChambeau 67, Charles Howell III 72, Paul Casey 73.
Prize money: $14,000,000

2. RANGEGOATS (-9). Bubba Watson 67, Talor Gooch 70, Thomas Pieters 70, Harold Varner III 72.
Prize money: $8,000,000

3. TORQUE (-6). Joaquin Niemann 66, David Puig 71, Sebastián Muñoz 72, Mito Pereira 73.
Prize money: $6,000,000

4. 4ACES (E). Peter Uihlein 69, Patrick Reed 71, Pat Perez 73, Dustin Johnson 75.
Prize money: $4,000,000

TIER 2

5. STINGER (-7). Dean Burmester 67, Branden Grace 67, Charl Schwartzel 73, Louis Oosthuizen 74.
Prize money: $3,250,000

6. FIREBALLS (-4). Carlos Ortiz 64, Eugenio Chacarra 73, Sergio Garcia 73, Abraham Ancer 74.
Prize money: $3,000,000

7. CLEEKS (+4). Martin Kaymer 72, Bernd Wiesberger 72, Richard Bland 74, Graeme McDowell 74.
Prize money: $2,750,000

8. HYFLYERS (+5). Cameron Tringale 70, Brendan Steele 71, Phil Mickelson 72, James Piot 80.
Prize money: $2,500,000

TIER 3

9. RIPPER (-5). Matt Jones 66, Jediah Morgan 71, Marc Leishman 73, Cameron Smith 73.
Prize money: $2,000,000

10. SMASH (E). Jason Kokrak 69, Brooks Koepka 70, Matthew Wolff 72, Chase Koepka 77.
Prize money: $1,750,000

11. MAJESTICKS (+4). Henrik Stenson 69, Ian Poulter 72, Lee Westwood 74, Sam Horsfield 77.
Prize money: $1,500,000

12. IRON HEADS (+5). Scott Vincent 70, Danny Lee 71, Kevin Na 73, Sihwan Kim 79.
Prize money: $1,250,000

Images: Jon Ferrey/LIV Golf

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Koepka’s win propelled him to third in the season-long Individual Championship standings that were topped by Talor Gooch. And although the five-time major champ didn’t receive the $18 million prize for first, $4 million is a nice little parting gift.

Anyway, here was Koepka’s priceless reaction when informed about the bonus during his post-round interview on live TV. Or live streaming. Or whatever the kids are calling it these days. You get the point. Koepka didn’t have a clue — not that he wasn’t happy to be informed about his latest haul.

The moment @BKoepka realised he won an extra $4m ?#LIVGolf @SmashGC pic.twitter.com/gW2abzYtzb

— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) October 15, 2023

“I did? Oh. Sweet, that’s a good feeling, that’s a good feeling,” Koepka says in the clip. “I’m rich, thanks for breaking that news.”

Must be nice, huh? Congrats to Koepka. We’d make a new dad “nappies are expensive” joke, but at this rate, Brooks could buy his own Huggies plant.

Main image: Brooks Koepka

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What is looking clear, should the 2024 season play on, is the unlikelihood that Matthew Wolff will remain on the Smash GC team captained by Brooks Koepka.

On Friday, after the opening round of the LIV Golf Invitational event in Saudi Arabia, Koepka was asked a question about the “brotherhood” between the members of his team, which includes Wolff, Chase Koepka (Brooks’ younger brother), and Jason Kokrak. His response was telling.

“There’s only three of us on our team,” said Koepka, who would go on to win the tournament in a playoff over Talor Gooch. “I mean, obviously my brother, I’m pretty tight with him, and then—I’ve enjoyed being around Jay for the last—I’ve been pretty close with Jay for maybe the last three years. I’ve enjoyed being around him. He’s a good player, super talented. It’s been fun to be around him, and he’s played pretty solid this year. Yeah, I can’t say anything bad about him.”

But in saying nothing about Wolff, Koepka sort of said a lot.

In July, Koepka did specifically call out Wolff during an interview with Sports Illustrated.

“I mean, when you quit on your round, you give up and stuff like that, that’s not competing,” Koepka said. “I’m not a big fan of that. You don’t work hard. It’s very tough. It’s very tough to have even like a team dynamic when you’ve got one guy that won’t work, one guy is not going to give any effort, he’s going to quit on the course, break clubs, gets down, bad body language, it’s very tough. I’ve basically given up on him—a lot of talent, but I mean the talent’s wasted.”

Wolff, who has been open about mental-health challenges he has faced since turning pro in 2019,  responded in a statement by saying Koepka’s comments were “beyond disappointing”: “When I chose to join his team in 2023, I did so with much optimism about my new home as part of Team Smash and equally as important the chance to be around and learn from a player of Brooks’s stature. Like everyone who has ever played the game at the highest level, I have had competitive moments in the past that I feel I have let myself down and even others in our new team environment. This has been quite difficult for me. My challenges on and off the golf course with my mental health have been well documented. I deal with those challenges every day.”

Wolff is scheduled to compete for Smash at this week’s LIV Golf team championship event in Miami. But with his T-38 in Jeddah, he wrapped up the regular season in 27th place on the individual points list. Outside the top 24, it means he can be traded or released from his team during LIV’s offseason.

Main image: Chris Trotman/LIV Golf

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The 31-year-old American already had three titles during 13-tournament 2023 LIV Golf League season and, for a while, it looked like he was going to bag No. 4. But he was pegged back by Royal Greens Golf & Country Club master Brooks Koepka and, after finding the water, was edged out on the second extra hole by the defending champion.

Second place would have to do this time around.

The runners-up cheque for $2.25 million would have normally soothed the pain somewhat, but Gooch was on cloud nine as his second-place finish was good enough to overtake Cameron Smith and secure the season-long Individual Championship crown and the $18 million bonus that came with that achievement.

Congratulations to our 2023 LIV Golf League Individual Champion Talor Gooch ?#LIVGolf pic.twitter.com/aBEwOzNZ4h

— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) October 15, 2023

Reflecting on his sensational season — and a final-round 62 that was enough to take the title — Gooch said: “Man, it’s awesome. From January 1 until now, that’s what we’ve been working for, so to get here and to be the champion, man, I’m proud, I’m honoured, and I’m excited.”

Gooch’s eight-under on Sunday was the lowest score of the day and matched the record for the week. But underneath his calm exterior, he was a bundle of nerves.

“I was nervous as could be all night last night and all morning today, and we got to the first tee, and I knocked it on the green, made a 30-footer, and I just settled in,” he said, grinning from ear to ear. “It was a very, very stressful day, very exciting day, but man, my caddie and I just did a great job of staying in the moment and just executing.

“It was a day that you dream of for the score and the moment and all of it, so it was a special, special day.”

The American seems to love life on the road with wins in Adelaide, Singapore, Andalucía and then a second place in Saudi Arabia.

“Man, I’ve got no idea,” he said of his international successes. “It helps having a caddie from Australia that’s travelled the world as a professional and as a caddie, as well. We just have great routines on the road, and the golf courses have fit us. It’s been a great international 2023 for us.

“You know, I didn’t come into this day thinking about winning a golf tournament. It’s easy for your mind to just say, let’s just go have a good day and solidify the Individual Championship, and then after nine holes, I was only one or two back, and I was feeling good, and the putter was hot. I was like: ‘Let’s go win a golf tournament.’

“It was a little bit bittersweet at the end not being able to get that done. But all day you’re looking at the scoreboard and seeing where you are compared to everyone [in the Individual Championship].”

Gooch also knows that his $18 million is going to a good home.

“My wife and I have a foundation that we started, and first and foremost it’s going to do a lot of good back home for a lot of kids,” he said. “That’s going to be the focus.”

With a field that includes 13 major winners among the 48 outstanding players, Gooch also feels he has truly earned his title.

“It’s special,” he said. “Again, I’ve always felt that I was good enough to be a professional golfer and play against the best in the world. Now to be here to, I think, consider myself one of the best in the world, it’s what I’ve been dreaming about since I was nine years old. To get to this point in my career and to have this validating of a season, yeah, words can’t describe how much it means and just how satisfying it is.”

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For the second year in a row  it seemed like an action replay of 2022 at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club on Sunday — especially the dramatic finale.

Brooks Koepka defended his title. He did it an extended playoff — this time over Individual Championship winner Talor Gooch — on the second extra hole (last year it took four to prevail over then Smash teammate Peter Uihlein) on the Red Sea coast.

The pair finished locked on 14-under, with a crucial birdie putt on the 18^th from Koepka as Gooch waited in the wings ensuring extra-time.

Harold Varner III, another winner on the Royal Greens course in the 2022 Saudi International, finished third on 12-under.

There were differences too, as this was Koepka’s first win as a father, and he snuck into the Individual Championship top-three at old rival Bryson DeChambeau’s expense — $4 million to be exact.

Five-time major winner Koepka was smiling and happy to talk — finally, following a less-than-loquacious week — in King Abdullah Economic City after his overtime win against Gooch.

Koepka held an overnight three-stroke lead, but was pegged back as Gooch and handful of others were landing birdies and he was left frustrated with a string of near-misses before a late rally, including a clutch putt on 18, got him to two-under for the day — good enough to match Gooch, who shot the day’s lowest score with an eight-under 62.

“It’s been a great week,” he said, trophy at his feet. “It’s been fantastic. Anytime you can win, it’s always a good feeling. Super proud of the way I played today. Felt like I was hitting good putts. They weren’t falling, and then it was just a matter of being patient and hanging in there.

“To make that eight-footer on 18 in regulation and then to birdie it twice in the playoff is pretty neat. Very pleased with the way I finished.”

Koepka was ensured the win when Gooch saw his second shot over the pond on their second extra trip down 18 trickle off the green into the water, allowing the defending champ two putts for victory.

Brooks Koepka defends his title in Jeddah ??

It took two playoff holes to secure the victory ?#LIVGolf pic.twitter.com/ZojMpnp7zY

— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) October 15, 2023

“I knew it was just going to be a matter of time [in the playoff]. I had to birdie it every time I felt like. Talor has been playing so well the whole year, all week. He played a hell of a round today. I just felt like birdie was — you had to make birdie, maybe even a three just to beat him.

“I got super lucky, and I kind of had the same putt I did in regulation, which also helped knowing the speed and how fast it was. Super pumped for that.”

With the win in the bag over the same track as last year, Koepka is raring to go — and set a good example for his baby son, Crew.

“I definitely feel like I’m back to my old self,” he said. “This one is probably a little different just because it’s the first win as a dad. I’m sure [wife] Jena and Crew are watching. He won’t remember that one, but at least I’ve got something to say, that I did win while he was here.”

Koepka also had the bonus of claiming that third spot on the Individual Championship podium — something he didn’t discover until he was informed after his win.

“I mean, I really didn’t think I had a chance,” he explained. “I don’t know how many points Bryson had to have or to get, but I felt like I had to win, and I did my part. That’s all I can do. Then from there, it’s just up to the guys. But yeah, super fortunate to kind of squeak in there. It’s a good day.”

And what was Koepka thinking as they had to hop on the buggies and play 18 yet one more time?

“Not again,” he laughed. “I don’t think anybody has played the 18th hole more than I have.”

It’s like we had all been here before.

Main image: Brooks Koepka celebrates his LIV Golf Jeddah win with Smash teammate Jason Kokrak. LIV Golf

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However, the defending champion drained a birdie on the last to reach 14-under alongside Talor Gooch to take the Jeddah trophy destination to a playoff.

And, just like last year, Koepka claimed it on the 18th in a playoff. Gooch claimed the season-long Individual Championship over Cam Smith and has the consolation of the $18 million bonus for the 2023 title.

There were many crucial outcomes to be determined in the final regular LIV Golf League 2023 season. Here is a quick rundown of the key results.

• Brooks Koepka takes the LIV Golf Jeddah tournament crown
• Talor Gooch takes the season-long Individual Championship title
• Fireballs take the Jeddah Team title
• 4 Aces claim top seed spot for the Team Championship in Miami next week
• Chase Koepka, James Piot, Jed Morgan and Sihwan Kim finish in the Drop Zone

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If he plays well on Sunday and everything falls his way, the RangeGoats star will earn a memorable season-long title, as well as the $18 million bonus. The final round at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club will complete the regular-season competition for the crown.

“I think everyone knows what’s on the line, and that’s going to build the intensity of it,” Gooch said. “It’s such an incredible opportunity, so you’ve just got to take it in stride and just embrace it. I knew it was going to come down to Sunday.”

Starting the tournament in second place in the overall standings behind Ripper captain Cameron Smith, Gooch is now projected into the top spot after his 64 on Saturday moved him into a four-way tie for ninth on the tournament leaderboard at six-under, six shots behind tournament leader Brooks Koepka.

The Individual Championship as it stands, heading into the Final Round ?

Will @TalorGooch take the W? ?#LIVGolf pic.twitter.com/tqWUknwIzq

— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) October 15, 2023

Smith is at two-under after his 68 and is tied for 25th, which earns no points and would drop him to No. 2 in the Individual standings.

The other player with Individual Champion aspirations is Crushers captain Bryson DeChambeau, who made a big charge on Saturday with a seven-under 63 that leaves him at eight-under and tied for fourth. DeChambeau needs to finish in the top three to have any chance at the title, but his fate also depends on how Smith and Gooch finish.

“All I’m focused on tomorrow is winning this tournament, and the rest will take care of itself,” DeChambeau said. “The job is not even close to being done. We’ve got 18 more holes.”

Winning the tournament will be a challenge if Koepka continues his impressive play at Royal Greens.

The Smash captain won here last year after opening with a 62. He matched that score on Saturday, shooting a bogey-free eight-under round in which he opened with six birdies in his first eight holes.

At 12-under for the tournament, he leads Fireballs Captain Sergio Garcia and the Crushers’ Charles Howell III by three strokes, with DeChambeau and Scott Vincent — who also shot 62 on Saturday — another stroke back.

Koepka started the tournament too far back in points to challenge for the Individual title, but he does have an opportunity to finish third in the standings and claim a $4 million bonus. He must repeat as tournament champion and hope DeChambeau finishes no better than 14th.

“Just keep doing what I’m doing,” Koepka said. “Seems to be working since I’m at the top.”

Vincent, a member of Iron Heads, also has a huge opportunity on Sunday. He started the week outside the Lock Zone — the top 24 in points who earn guaranteed spots in next year’s LIV Golf League. But his second-round 62 now projects him into 24th in the standings.

“Tomorrow’s a big day,” Vincent said. “You can’t hide from that.”

Meanwhile, team seeds will also be determined, with the top four seeds receiving quarter-final byes for next week’s Team Championship in Miami.

RangeGoats are projected to move ahead of Stinger for the final bye, while DeChambeau’s Crushers are 22-under and have a three-stroke lead on the tournament leaderboard, projecting them to the No. 1 seed ahead of 4 Aces.

“Definitely want to win the team championship and be first in the points list going to Miami,” said DeChambeau, whose Crushers have won twice this year, including the previous LIV Golf event in Chicago. “We’re that good of a team, and my boys have worked really hard this year. If we play well tomorrow, we definitely deserve to be up in that No. 1 spot.”

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Smash siblings Brooks and Chase Koepka are facing that reality right now as elder brother Brooks leads the way after Day 2 of the LIV finale at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club in Jeddah, will little brother Chase is in the dreaded Drop Zone, facing the real prospect of losing his playing rights for the 2024 season — and a place on Brooks’ team.

Brooks shot a stunning eight-under 62 to get to 12-under and lead by three from Sergio Garcia and Charles Howell III, and is 18 holes away from defending his LIV Golf Jeddah title.

BK is absolutely locked in ?#LIVGolf @SmashGC pic.twitter.com/f1mirah8l7

— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) October 14, 2023

Chase, on the other hand, is two-over, 44^th out of 48 players and looks certain to finish in the bottom four in the year-long  points standings and have to go through a playoff with the finest Asian Tour players to have any hope of making it back in 2024.

Brooks was showing a little less than brotherly love as he spoke following his round on Saturday.

“I mean, there’s nothing I can do,” he said of Chase’s plight. “At the end of the day, it’s up to him. I know he’s working hard. I know he’s been trying. We’ve been practising together quite a bit. Honestly, he’s struggling a little bit. I’ve been there. We’ve all been there. Every golfer has.

“It’s part of it. You look at it, he was playing mini-tour golf 16 months ago. I don’t think the last year-and-a-half has been too bad for him.

“I don’t know what he’s going to do. You’re going to have to ask him. It’s completely up to him whether he wants to keep playing, go play Asian Tour, play if he can play or stop playing. I don’t know. We haven’t had that conversation. That’s for him to decide. I’m not going to force him or encourage him to go one way or another. It’s a big life choice, so I’ll let him decide that.”

After his Jeddah playoff victory last year, Brooks said he had promised to buy Chase a Lamborghini if he won. Things seem to have changed…

“Yeah, he got team money last year, so that was the difference,” Brooks said on Saturday. “He’s doing just fine. He blew his back right tyre out, so maybe he can buy a new tyre. I know he got it fixed a couple weeks ago, so yeah, he’s on his own now.”

Of his own performance on Saturday — eight birdies and 10 pars on a blemish-free card — Brooks was back to his dry-humour best when asked how he thought he performed.

“Made eight birdies, 10 pars,” he said. “I played pretty solid, made a couple good putts early on, which obviously helps with momentum, and drove it pretty well other than my last hole. Never really felt like I had a chance to make a bogey. Pretty pleased with it today.”

So, what’s the game plan to make it back-to-back wins at LIV Golf Jeddah?

“Just got to go play a good round of golf. That’s it. Just keep doing what I’m doing. Seems to be working since I’m at the top. Just go play good, see what happens tomorrow.”

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“I thought I played solid,” he said after his 66. “I didn’t birdie any of the par-5s, so that was disappointing, but four-under in this wind, all right. Two three-putts not very good, but I just hung around.”

The highlight of Koepka’s first round was a fairway hole-out eagle two on the ninth. The staid American typically took it in his stride.

“It went in,” he smiled. “I don’t know what else to tell you. It went in. A little bit of luck involved for any shot to go in, but it was a good shot, too, so it was nice.”

Koepka also admitted that golf was the furthest thing from his mind when he and wife Jena’s first child, Crew, was born six weeks premature in July and needed prolonged hospital care.

“It’s definitely changed it [my perspective on golf]” he told Golf Digest Middle East. “I think the first little bit I was not interested in golf at all. Crew was fighting for his life, so golf became very irrelevant for me for a little bit.

“Now that he’s doing well, I’m able to focus a little better, and it’s definitely driven me a little bit to be more dedicated. I just want to show — I know he can’t see it right now, but show him exactly what hard work, dedication, practice — if you do what you’re supposed to do, it eventually will work out for you if you put all the effort in.”

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The expanded schedule for 2023 saw the 12 teams jet around the globe to compete in the innovative shotgun-start 54-hole tournaments, with $25 million on the line each time.

The winner’s circle has certainly been a who’s who of big-name golfers this time around with the likes of Charles Howell III and Danny Lee rubbing shoulders with two-time winners Talor Gooch, Cameron Smith, Bryson DeChambeau and PGA Championship winner Brooks Koepka. 

Koepka’s Smash team have had a season to remember, getting on the podium in Orlando, thanks to Brooks’ stunning victory — and now the skipper, brother Chase, Jason Kokrak and latest arrival Matthew Wolff are gunning for more success as they look to defend their Jeddah crown this month in the Individual Title finale ahead of the Team showdown in Miami.

LIV Golf

Kokrak has been enjoying life with his ‘family’ — the Koepkas and Wolff, who replaced Peter Uihlein at the start of this season — and is eager to get back on the course in Saudi Arabia after making such fond memories last year.   

The American 38-year-old signed on ahead of the third event last year at Bedminster to team up with his good friend Brooks and he got to witness Koepka’s maiden LIV Golf triumph first-hand as the captain battled it out in a playoff with teammate Uihlein in the fading light on the Red Sea coast.

“LIV is such a different product to anything else in golf right now,” Kokrak told Golf Digest Middle East. “It is definitely more exciting — it’s faster with 48 guys, and the telecast is faster too.

“In the first year we knew there were going to be growing pains, but you could see a lot of the guys were out there having fun in a relaxed atmosphere, a bit of music, and you are essentially playing golf and practising with your buddies in a super-fun atmosphere.

“Moving into season two has been pretty special as, not only has it been fun, I have seen real growth, both in terms of the broadcasting product but in the teams, the organisations, and how they are operation on a day-to-day basis. 

“The tournaments too are much smoother, especially back to back. Everyone was talking about how much better London was this year than last year and they are learning year on year and event by event to grow and improve. 

“It has been fun for me to look at as a veteran, knowing what goes on behind the scenes to put on a golf tournament and it is pretty great to see just how far they have come in just one year.” 

Now Kokrak is ready to help his team make more history on their return to Saudi — with the bond between players growing stronger despite the line-up change.

“We had Peter Uihlein with us last year and now we have Matthew Wolff, so we have experienced some of those changes already,” he said. 

“It was a smooth transition with no real issues. Peter lives down near Brooks and Chase and they see each other all the time. 

“With Chase and Brooks being brothers it is an easy camaraderie because they have been together and so close for so long. Brooks and I have been friends for many years and see eye to eye, so it has been smooth sailing. 

“No matter what team you are on, there will be disagreements, like any family. But ours is a little different as we have Brooks and Chase in there together. 

“You certainly feel tensions between brothers at times, especially with Brooks being where he is in the world and the level of golf he has been playing for the last seven to 10 years. 

“Both he and Chase had an incredible year last year, but Chase has had a bit of a slump this time. So we hope he can kinda hop out of that and have a couple of good weeks to end the season in Jeddah and Miami.”

LIV Golf

Kokrak is not afraid to let his captain know what he is thinking — even if it concerns five-time major champ Brooks himself. 

“The kid [Koepka] is something else,” Kokrak said. “As soon as he won that major [ 2023 PGA Championship], he was right back to work, tuning up to win another one. So every once in a while I will put him back in his chair and say: ‘You enjoy this for a few minutes. It’s not all work all the time. Take some time to enjoy yourself.’ With the new baby here too, I am hoping he does that in this last month. 

“I think that’s what I bring to the table for him — a good backboard to put him back in his place every once in a while.”

“Brooks is in very elite company with how many majors he has won, but he came all the way through the Challenge Tour, European Tour and then the PGA, dismantling everyone on the way. A lot of people forget that there is always that grind, that challenge to get better and strive to beat everyone each week. A few of those other major winners could learn a lot from him about that in order to win more. 

Despite being the ‘elder statesman’ of the team, Kokrak is still taking things on board trying to keep up with his younger Smash mates. “I’m still learning from Brooks,” he said. “He has re-energised me as a player. I am as fit now as I have ever been at 38, and I see him as someone I look up to and that makes me want to play the best golf I can for my team captain. 

“I had a little slump last year but now I am doing better. I am really looking forward to finishing off the year strong. If I play well, then that can only help the team and we want to be back up on that podium again. 

“Jeddah is a tricky golf course, it normally takes me a few times around to get used to there. It is normally super windy, which can be a struggle for me, but I got a good driver in the bag now and I am putting better so I am looking forward to a strong finish.”

Kokrak cannot hide his smile as he recalls how the drama unfolded last year — even though he was just watching from the sidelines. 

“It was a whirlwind,” he said. “I remember Chase and I walking back and forth on that par 5 18th as they were battling it out [Koepka eventually won on the third extra hole]. We would grab some food and a drink from the players tent then back up we would go to follow Brooks and Peter with our bottles ready to spray, not knowing if it would be on Brooks or Peter…

“It was a pretty special moment as we obviously knew we had the team win and the 1-2, but we didn’t know which way it would go. Watching those two battle it out — teammates, friends, neighbours — on that last hole was something else. Knowing how competitive Brooks is, and I know how competitive Peter is, it was fun to watch as neither was giving an inch. It really was an unforgettable experience walking to the 18th green knowing one of my teammates was gonna win and we also had the team title. I won’t forget that for a long time.”

Koepka himself was delighted with the victory.

“Honestly, to me the big thing was getting the team win,” said Koepka after his triumph, even if it ended up costing him. “I told my brother I’d buy him a Lambo if we won the team thing, so I’ve got to go by one. It’s always fun battling against your friends, and I think it’s special.

“The team aspect is pretty cool We’ve known each other for so long. That’s what you want to do, right? You want to compete with some of your very good friends, go toe-to-toe. This team thing has revived me.”

Image supplied

Even as the season comes to a close, Kokrak knows there is still a lot of hard work to go and he has some unfinished business himself. 

“We are entering every tournament trying to play our best to win, but going back as defending champions of that event certainly has a different side to it,” he said. “We still have to go about our business and go out there and play the best golf we can. It was fun getting up on stage for that first Smash team win and I am really looking forward to going back. 

“I feel as good as I have done in a long time. I definitely want to win multiple times a year. That is a little more difficult as there are only 14 individual events. In really just wanna play my best golf to finish out my career. I have always tried to make as much money as I can — I have a six-year-old and a four-year-old and I have always wanted to retire around 43-44 years old so I can watch my kids grow up and go to all their games and whatever. So, I have a feeling I might be able to do that and look forward to that.” 

However, there is a slight cloud hanging over the Smash team as Chase is in the dreaded ‘Drop Zone’ — the bottom four players will be cut from the 2024 roster and will have to compete in a playoff with the best Asian Tour players to return to the line-up.

“There is such a different vibe, a different feel, and I am trying to take it all in and enjoy this ever-changing, fluid LIV tour,” Kokrak said.

“People come, people go, people join different team and it is all a new experience to take in. You got to work hard and get results, but sometimes you got to sit back, look around and enjoy yourself a little bit.

“To be in that bottom four like Chase, I haven’t really considered it. But in all honesty, in my rookie year on the PGA Tour I remember having four events left and I was going to lose my card. I needed to make something happen and do something special and I finished T2 and top 15 to keep my card. I always strive to play my best golf when I am backed into a corner. These guys have nowhere to go but up and it has been a long, hard year for them. I definitely feel for them because it is a tough game and golf has never given anything to anybody.

“It’s not like the end of the world if they do get cut as they have other tours and places to play in order to try to get back in and I think they should take it as an experience and know how much fun and how competitive this tour can be strive to get back. There is a pathway back — you just got to play good golf! 

“Having a teammate in the bottom four right now, I definitely keep a closer eye on his scores than I normally do, more than I did last year when he was playing really solid golf. He’s just got into a little bit of a slump and I hope he will get a good kick in this last event to get safe. I feel for him but you got to go out there and dig it out of the dirt and make it happen.”

Brooks also had some words of encouragement for his brother. “I told him, I’ve been through that stretch where you’re not playing well,” he said. “He’s working hard, I’ll give him that. That’s why I haven’t gotten on him. I’m proud of him. He’s gutted through this thing, and eventually it’s going to turn right side up, and that’s what I just keep telling him. I’ve been in those shoes two years ago. It will come around.”

Main image: Chris Trotman/LIV Golf via Getty Images

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