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Dustin Johnson’s Redemption Arc Complete With LIV Golf Las Vegas Win, Brooks Koepka’s Smash GC Steals Team Title

Published 02/10/2024, 5:42 PM EST

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USA Today via Reuters

LIV Golf dishes out its champions on the Super Bowl’s turf. The exciting event at Las Vegas witnessed Dustin Johnson clinching the title of individual champion while the Brooks Koepka-led Smash GC emerged victorious in the team event. The American pro was able to beat the likes of Talor Gooch and Peter Uihlein with a final day score of 1-under 69, the two of whom finished as the runner-ups by 1 stroke. Meanwhile, Smash GC was able to beat the rest of the teams with a 33-under overall through the three days of play at the Las Vegas Country Club.

As is the case in every tournament in the Saudi-backed league, the champ, with his 198 (-12), managed to take home a cut of $4 million from a prize pool of $20 million kept aside for the individual event. However, out of the remaining $5 million, the Koepka-led squad was able to rake in a total of $3 million, which is the winner’s cut for the team event.

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Dustin Johnson clinches his 3rd LIV Golf win

The two champs managed to cement their places at the top of the field of 54 golfers and 13 teams. The golfer carded a total of four birdies and three bogeys on the final day to win the match, extending the tally of birdies to 16 over the three days. In the meantime, the winning squad, comprising all four golfers, was able to score a total of 18 birdies alone in the last round to clinch the title of champion.

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Johnson’s third win on the PIF-funded circuit came after a total of nine months, the last of which came at Tulsa in May 2023. Meanwhile, the 2023 season-ending Individual Champion, Gooch, tied for second place with Uihlein with a score of 11-under-199. The former’s final day included him carding a total of six birdies, while the RangeGoats GC member registered a total of 4 of the same on Saturday.

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However, Koepka, the captain of the winning team, was only able to finish T12, tied with Caleb Surratt and Tyrrell Hatton with a score of 6-under 204. Even so, his figures, along with those of his teammates, consisting of Gooch, Jason Kokrak, and Graeme McDowell, managed to provide the pedestal for the squad to emerge victorious. The last two professionals were tied at T5, registering a score of 201 (-9).

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It was undoubtedly an exciting final day of the game of golf being held in Las Vegas. The nail-biting finisher to the second event of the Saudi-backed league was able to satisfy the fans, who were eagerly awaiting another exciting match like the first tourney in Mayakoba. Anyway, a feather in the cap for Johnson and Smash GC. It seems there will be the popping of some champagne bottles tonight!

Watch This Story: Brooks Koepka receives a shout-out from the great white shark at the $25,000,000 event

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Written by:

Allan Abe

1,116Articles

One take at a time

My search for happiness eventually led me, Allan Abe, to the hallways of ES after dabbling in different fields. Following my childhood passion for the sport and coupling it with my passion for writing, the role of a golf writer was the perfect career path and has been more than a fruitful one. Through the live coverage and in-depth analysis of the lives of big stars like Tiger Woods and Jon Rahm, I have put to use all my journalistic-accolade-winning experience, from state-wide events to college competitions, to give the reader a great story with every piece.
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Edited by:

Tushhita.barua

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