Brooks Koepka closes particular person LIV Golf season with playoff win

KING ABDULLAH ECONOMIC CITY, Saudi Arabia — Brooks Koepka holed his birdie putt on the third playoff gap to win the LIV Golf Invitational-Jeddah on Sunday and declare his first victory on the breakaway tour.

Little might separate Koepka from shut pal and American compatriot Peter Uihlein all weekend, and so they matched one another birdie for birdie on the primary two playoff holes.

However Koepka finally prevailed after Uihlein’s third shot from the sand went into the water whereas Koepka hit a textbook shot earlier than making the putt to seal his first victory since February 2021.

Koepka, a former top-ranked participant and four-time main winner, was emotional afterward because the 32-year-old revealed he had feared for his profession whereas battling damage.

“The final two years have not been enjoyable. It has been a protracted street,” Koepka mentioned. “I did not know if my profession was over for a half-second. So it is good to have the ability to come again and be capable to win.”

Koepka had led after the opening spherical on the Royal Greens Golf and Nation Membership in King Abdullah Financial Metropolis however was overtaken by Uihlein on Saturday.

They had been in a four-way tie for the lead on the last gap Sunday, however each birdied to go into the playoff and go away Joaquin Niemann (65) and Sergio Garcia (68) a shot behind.

Koepka had a 1-under-69, whereas Uihlein made par as each completed at 12 below general.

The consequence noticed Koepka take second place within the season standings with a prize of $8 million and Uihlein declare the $4 million prize for third. Dustin Johnson has already clinched the LIV particular person champion title and its prize of $18 million.

It was the seventh and last LIV Golf Invitational for particular person and crew play. The final occasion of the inaugural season will probably be in Miami in two weeks for four-man groups.

LIV Golf is funded by the Saudi Arabia sovereign wealth fund, however this was the primary match held in Saudi Arabia after earlier occasions in London; Portland, Oregon; Bedminster, New Jersey; Boston; Chicago; and Bangkok.

LIV Golf has 48-player fields with no minimize over 54 holes and have $25 million in complete prize cash. Gamers who’ve been drawn to the massive prizes have been banned from taking part in on the PGA and European excursions.