LIV GOLF
7 DECEMBER, 2023 - SHANK, BY MATT HOOPER: LIV GOLF'S UNIQUE TRANSFER WINDOW HAS SEEN SEVERAL PLAYERS MOVE BETWEEN TEAMS SINCE THE 2023 SEASON ENDED AT THE END OF OCTOBER, BUT NONE HAVE BEEN QUITE AS SURPRISING AS TODAY'S NEWS REGARDING THE LIV GOLF LEAGUE CHAMPION, TALOR GOOCH. THE 3-TIME WINNER WAS THE RANGEGOATS STANDOUT PLAYER IN THE 2023 SEASON, BUT TODAY IT WAS ANNOUNCED HE WAS HEADING TO JOIN BROOKS KOEPKA AT SMASH GC FOR THE 2024 SEASON, MEANING THE AMERICAN HAS HAD THREE DIFFERENT TEAMS IN THE THREE SEASONS OF LIV GOLF.
Gooch now teams up with Captain Brooks Koepka, recently signed free agent Graeme McDowell and veteran Jason Kokrak to round out the new-look Smash GC roster.
With Koepka and Gooch, Smash now has two of the top three performers from 2023. This past season, Gooch became the league’s first three-time individual winner, securing victories in Adelaide, Singapore and Andalucía. In October, the duo faced off in a playoff to determine the winner of LIV Golf Jeddah presented by ROSHN, with Koepka defeating Gooch to secure the tournament win and third-place finish in the season-long standings. As the tournament runner-up, Gooch locked up the season’s Individual title.
With Koepka and Gooch, Smash now has two of the top three performers from 2023. This past season, Gooch became the league’s first three-time individual winner, securing victories in Adelaide, Singapore and Andalucía. In October, the duo faced off in a playoff to determine the winner of LIV Golf Jeddah presented by ROSHN, with Koepka defeating Gooch to secure the tournament win and third-place finish in the season-long standings. As the tournament runner-up, Gooch locked up the season’s Individual title.
Statement from Captain Brooks Koepka:
“This couldn't be a stronger offseason move for us. Bringing Talor in, Smash GC goes from a contender to a juggernaut in 2024. He's the ultimate competitor, a three-time LIV Golf tournament winner and crowned the Individual Champion. We had our own battles on the course last season; I'd be lying if I didn't say how excited I am to see him on the podium for our squad now.
“He's not only an incredible player on course, but we're proud to support Talor's dedication to give back through his foundation and positively impacting the next generation. Talor is exactly the type of player that I see being the foundation for the Smash GC franchise. We're ready to get to work.”
“He's not only an incredible player on course, but we're proud to support Talor's dedication to give back through his foundation and positively impacting the next generation. Talor is exactly the type of player that I see being the foundation for the Smash GC franchise. We're ready to get to work.”
RANGEGOATS GC PROVIDED THE FOLLOWING COMMENTS ON THE DEPARTURE OF BOTH GOOCH, AND HAROLD VARNER III: “We would like to thank Talor Gooch and Harold Varner III for their contributions to the RangeGoats over the past year. As founding members of the RangeGoats, they will always be a part of our family. Combined, they won four individual titles and led the team to a runner-up finish in the 2023 Team Championship. We wish them the best of luck with their new teams and look forward to competing against them next season.”
THE EXIT OF BOTH GOOCH AND VARNER III, TO BE REPLACED BY MATT WOLFF AND PETER UIHLEIN, IS SURE TO BE DETRIMENTAL TO THE HOPES OF THE RANGEGOATS, WITH BOTH THE DEPARTING PLAYERS COMBINING FOR 4 WINS LAST SEASON.
