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Undeterred by Brutal Cold Shoulder From the Patriotic Squad, LIV Defector Talor Gooch Diverts His Focus as $25M Race Edges Closer

Published 09/14/2023, 10:30 AM EDT

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LIV Star Talor Gooch displayed an impressive performance this season, bagging three LIV Golf titles within three months. After such an impressive season so far, everyone was talking about his place in the Ryder Cup.

Gooch knew he needed to perform and stand out as an exceptional player to gain his spot on the Ryder Cup team. Even after missing out on the squad, he is optimistic and is already setting his sights on future competitions.

Talor Gooch opens up about upcoming plans and aspirations

After victories in Adelaide and Singapore, Talor Gooch showcased his prowess by grabbing his third LIV Golf title of the season at the Valderrama. This earned him an additional £3.2 million in prize money. Dominating the breakaway circuit in 2023, Gooch has been the front-runner in individual standings. And his triumph at the iconic Valderrama course further solidified his stellar campaign.

After exceptional performances, sadly Gooch faltered during the PGA Championship and The Open and didn’t qualify for the U.S. Open in June. When selections were made in September, it seemed Gooch and many LIV peers weren’t contenders. After missing a Ryder Cup slot, LIV Golf star Talor Gooch now aspires to clinch the 2023 season-end titles in the breakaway circuit. A week ahead of the 44th Ryder Cup, the 31-year-old will compete at Rich Harvest Farms, Illinois in the LIV Golf Chicago with a prize purse of $25M. This 12th event of the League’s 2023 roster kicks off on September 22 and wraps up on September 24.

From the captain’s six choices, only Brooks Koepka, who secured a major win at the PGA Championship in May, was picked from the Saudi-backed league. Yet, Gooch remains optimistic. He is now focused on the LIV’s individual and team championships. Currently, he’s second in individual rankings, trailing leader Cam Smith.

via Imago

The regular individual season now heads into its last two events. Meanwhile, Gooch acknowledges the strong competition from leaders like Smith, Koepka, and Patrick Reed. Sharing his aspirations with LIV Golf, he expressed, To be able to beat those guys over the course of a season is no easy task.

Gooch’s Faith in Teammates Ahead of Season Showdown

Gooch has extreme confidence in his teammates. He said the team has four guys who can win any week. He added that it was only a matter of time.

Thomas [Pieters] hasn’t had a great season… but we all know he’s a great player. Bubba has shown some signs of being Bubba. And obviously, Harold [Varner III] and I played well and so at any point in time, any of the four of us can carry the torch for this team. You know for us, we got to keep being us. And we know that Bubba and Thomas are going to play great. It’s just a matter of time, and Harold and I need to keep it up.”

After the LIV Chicago, the LIV individual season championship will culminate in its next event in Jeddah on October 15. Subsequently, the season concludes as 12 league teams compete for the team championship at Trump Doral in Miami. We can’t wait to watch the game and see who shines on the top.

Watch the Story: “You Just Don’t Leave”: Moments After Finalizing the Ryder Cup Roster, Captain Zach Johnson Unveils the Rationale Behind Picking an Underperforming PGA Tour Pro

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Written by:

Dimple Nakar

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Dimple Nakar is a budding golf writer at EssentiallySports. The job brings together two of her strongest passions: writing and golf. Dimple’s love for the sport extends far beyond the main players like Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson; she also has immense love for the growth golf is currently seeing through LIV Golf and the merger of the two sides.
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Edited by:

Vishav

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