Captain Cameron Smith of Ripper GC plays during the pro-am ahead of LIV Golf Jeddah at the Royal Greens Golf & Country Club on Thursday, October 12, 2023 in King Abdullah Economic City, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Jon Ferrey/LIV Golf)
12 OCTOBER, 2023 - SHANK, BY MATT HOOPER: AFTER 12 TOURNAMENTS, PLAYED IN 6 COUNTRIES ON 4 CONTINENTS, THE 2023 LIV GOLF LEAGUE TITLE RACE COMES DOWN TO THE FINAL EVENT, IN JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA, AND INCREDIBLY WE HAVE THREE STARS IN CONTENTION FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP AND THE £18MILLION PRIZE. IN THE INAUGURAL SEASON OF LIV GOLF, IT REALLY WAS A ONE-HORSE SHOW, WITH DUSTIN JOHNSON DOMINATING AND WINNING THE TITLE BEFORE WE EVEN GOT TO JEDDAH, BUT THIS YEAR HAS BEEN DIFFERENT. LIV GOLF'S FIRST FULL SEASON OPENED WITH EVENTS IN MEXICO, TUCSON AND ORLANDO, WITH THREE DIFFERENT WINNERS AHEAD OF THE YEAR'S FIRST MAJOR, THE MASTERS. HOWEVER, SINCE THEN IT HAS ALL BEEN ABOUT THREE MEN - TALOR GOOCH, CAMERON SMITH, AND BRYSON DECHAMBEAU. THE TRIO HAVE WON A COMBINED 7 OUT OF 9 TOURNAMENTS ON THE LIV GOLF SCHEDULE, AND SMITH AND DECHAMBEAU HAVE FINISHED AS RUNNER-UP IN 2 OTHER TOURNAMENTS.
GOOCH STUNNED THE FIELD IN ADELAIDE WITH A BLISTERING OPENING 2 ROUNDS OF 62 TO DOMINATE THE EVENT AT THE GRANGE, AND COULD EVEN AFFORD A 1-OVER-PAR FINAL ROUND AND WIN BY 3 SHOTS. IN THE FOLLOWING WEEK HE DEFEATED SERGIO GARCIA IN SUDDEN DEATH AT SENTOSA IN SINGAPORE, AND HE ASCENDED TO THE TOP OF THE LIV GOLF LEAGUE STANDINGS. THE LIV GOLF LEAGUE THEN WENT TO TULSA, OKLAHOMA, AND GOOCH'S EFFECTIVE HOME GAME, BUT IT WAS DUSTIN JOHNSON WHO TOOK THE TITLE, WITH CAM SMITH AS RUNNER-UP. THE PRE-OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP EUROPEAN SWING SAW ALL THREE CHAMPIONSHIP PROTAGONISTS FEATURE HEAVILY, AS GOOCH BIRDIED THE FINAL HOLE TO DEFEAT DECHAMBEAU BY 1 SHOT AT VALDERRAMA, AND CAMERON SMITH CLAIMED A COMFORTABLE VICTORY AT THE CENTURION CLUB IN ST ALBANS. GOOCH SUDDENLY HAD A CHALLENGER FOR THE LIV GOLF LEAGUE TITLE, AS THE 150TH OPEN CHAMPION HAD ADDED VICTORY TO CONSISTENCY.
THEN CAME ARGUABLY THE MOMENT OF THE SEASON, MAYBE THE BIGGEST MOMENT IN THE SHORT HISTORY OF LIV GOLF, AND ONE OF THE GREAT MOMENTS IN MODERN GOLF. BRYSON DECHAMBEAU DISMANTLED THE OLD WHITE COURSE AT THE GREENBRIER, SHOOTING A REMARKABLE FINAL ROUND OF 58, FOLLOWING A SATURDAY 61, TO CLAIM HIS FIRST LIV GOLF WIN. AUSTRALIAN STAR SMITH WOULD TAKE THE TITLE AGAIN IN THE FOLLOWING WEEK TO ASCEND TO THE TOP OF THE RANKINGS, THE RIPPER GC CAPTAIN WON BY 7 SHOTS FROM ANIRBAN LAHIRI AT TRUMP BEDMINSTER. THEN, LAST TIME OUT, BRYSON DECHAMBEAU WOULD PRODUCE HEROICS AGAIN, WITH A FINAL ROUND OF 64 AT RICH HARVEST FARMS TO WIN BY 1 FROM ANIRBAN LAHIRI AND MARC LEISHMAN, AND PUT HIMSELF RIGHT IN CONTENTION FOR THE LIV GOLF LEAGUE TITLE THIS WEEK.
all three contenders are looking forward to competing for the season-long championship this week, AND SPOKE TO THE MEDIA AHEAD OF THE EVENT ON WEDNESDAY:
Q. The individual season is reaching its climax this week in Jeddah. Can you tell us how you're feeling this week going into the final event of the season?
CAMERON SMITH: “I think everyone out here wanted to probably be in our position at the end of this week, so it's definitely a good spot to be in.”
Q. Cam, you're our points race leader coming into LIV Golf Jeddah. Can you talk us through this year and flying the flag for Australia with your Ripper GC team?
CAMERON SMITH: “It's been good. I think from a team perspective, we could have done a little bit better…For myself, consistency has been good. I probably didn't get off to the greatest start to the season, but a lot of hard work and a lot of digging deep to get those couple of wins, and it's really nice to be in this spot.”
CAMERON SMITH: “I think everyone out here wanted to probably be in our position at the end of this week, so it's definitely a good spot to be in.”
Q. Cam, you're our points race leader coming into LIV Golf Jeddah. Can you talk us through this year and flying the flag for Australia with your Ripper GC team?
CAMERON SMITH: “It's been good. I think from a team perspective, we could have done a little bit better…For myself, consistency has been good. I probably didn't get off to the greatest start to the season, but a lot of hard work and a lot of digging deep to get those couple of wins, and it's really nice to be in this spot.”
Ripper GC Captain Cameron Smith leads the individual standings heading into the regular-season finale at LIV Golf Jeddah presented by ROSHN. (Photo by LIV Golf)
Q. Cam, there's so many scenarios in play about how you guys finish and how it works out against everybody else. Do you go into the tournament thinking you're going to have to win to nail this down, or are you looking at any of those scenarios?
CAMERON SMITH: “I think that's kind of the mindset every week is to come here to win, so I don't think it's really any different to any other week. For sure there's a little bit more up for grabs this week. You have to acknowledge that and really get on your toes and just try and go out there and win the tournament. I think it's the same as every other week. But more to play for.”
Q. Just in terms of looking at the leaderboard this week, will you have any different look at it? Will you be looking at the other two guys out there?
CAMERON SMITH: “I'm a leaderboard watcher, too. I love watching it. I don't know if I'll be keeping an eye out for these guys as much, but definitely the other team members, it's fun to watch and see how they're going.”
CAMERON SMITH: “I think that's kind of the mindset every week is to come here to win, so I don't think it's really any different to any other week. For sure there's a little bit more up for grabs this week. You have to acknowledge that and really get on your toes and just try and go out there and win the tournament. I think it's the same as every other week. But more to play for.”
Q. Just in terms of looking at the leaderboard this week, will you have any different look at it? Will you be looking at the other two guys out there?
CAMERON SMITH: “I'm a leaderboard watcher, too. I love watching it. I don't know if I'll be keeping an eye out for these guys as much, but definitely the other team members, it's fun to watch and see how they're going.”
Captain Cameron Smith of Ripper GC, Captain Bryson DeChambeau of Crushers GC and Talor Gooch of RangeGoats GC speak at a press conference during the practice round ahead of LIV Golf Jeddah at the Royal Greens Golf & Country Club on Wednesday, October 11, 2023 in King Abdullah Economic City, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Montana Pritchard/LIV Golf)
Q. Can you tell us how you're feeling this week going into the final event of the season?
TAYLOR GOOCH: “Going back to the first tournament of the year, if you could have told me, hey, this is where you're going to be coming into the last event, you'd take it…had a couple weeks off and was able to get a little bit of practice in and didn't practice for this heat, but that's just what you're getting into this week. [I’m] excited for the week and ready to have a good one.”
Q. Talor, some takeaways for you this year. You're currently second in the standings, had some great success abroad winning in Adelaide, Singapore and Andalucía. Can you sum up your 2023 LIV Golf season and playing in some of these global destinations?
TALOR GOOCH: “If you would have told [me] the beginning of the season I would have had three wins, I obviously would have taken it. It's been a culmination of years of hard work and patience. I've never won three times in a season as a professional golfer. It's been a great year. We've played great. I played really well last year, and I couldn't close out some tournaments. Some of that experience of failing last year I think kind of set me up to succeed for this year when I was in those same positions.”
Q. Talor, there's so many scenarios in play about how you guys finish and how it works out against everybody else. Do you go into the tournament thinking you're going to have to win to nail this down, or are you looking at any of those scenarios?
TALOR GOOCH: “I keep telling everybody, you just know that the two of these guys are going to have a good week this week, and the only way to know that you're going to get the job done is just to go and win. I've used the term a lot, the rule of 67. I'm just going to control what I can control, try and shoot 67 and lower each day and see where the chips fall. I know the only scenario that I have control of is if I go and win and that takes care of everything, and kind of like every other sport, winning kind of takes care of everything. That's the goal, and that's what we're going to try to do.”
TAYLOR GOOCH: “Going back to the first tournament of the year, if you could have told me, hey, this is where you're going to be coming into the last event, you'd take it…had a couple weeks off and was able to get a little bit of practice in and didn't practice for this heat, but that's just what you're getting into this week. [I’m] excited for the week and ready to have a good one.”
Q. Talor, some takeaways for you this year. You're currently second in the standings, had some great success abroad winning in Adelaide, Singapore and Andalucía. Can you sum up your 2023 LIV Golf season and playing in some of these global destinations?
TALOR GOOCH: “If you would have told [me] the beginning of the season I would have had three wins, I obviously would have taken it. It's been a culmination of years of hard work and patience. I've never won three times in a season as a professional golfer. It's been a great year. We've played great. I played really well last year, and I couldn't close out some tournaments. Some of that experience of failing last year I think kind of set me up to succeed for this year when I was in those same positions.”
Q. Talor, there's so many scenarios in play about how you guys finish and how it works out against everybody else. Do you go into the tournament thinking you're going to have to win to nail this down, or are you looking at any of those scenarios?
TALOR GOOCH: “I keep telling everybody, you just know that the two of these guys are going to have a good week this week, and the only way to know that you're going to get the job done is just to go and win. I've used the term a lot, the rule of 67. I'm just going to control what I can control, try and shoot 67 and lower each day and see where the chips fall. I know the only scenario that I have control of is if I go and win and that takes care of everything, and kind of like every other sport, winning kind of takes care of everything. That's the goal, and that's what we're going to try to do.”
Rangegoats GC’s Talor Gooch sits in second place in the individual standings heading into LIV Golf Jeddah presented by ROSHN. (Photo by LIV Golf)
Q. Bryson, Mr. 58, you currently sit in third place on the podium, but arguably coming in with the best form in the field with two wins in your last three outings. You must be feeling pretty confident about your chances coming into LIV Golf Jeddah this week?
BRYSON DeCHAMBEAU: “You have to respect the field. This field is incredibly talented. You have 48 of the best players in the world, and man, it's always a grind out here. I think that's a testament to how good these guys have played and how consistent they've played throughout the year. It shows how good they are…This golf course sets up really nice for me, but you can still wedge your way around it out here and make some nice putts, and that changes things. You've always got to be careful and just work as hard as you possibly can because these guys are incredibly good out here”.
Q. With one eye on next week at the Team Championships in Miami. Crushers GC are currently second in the standings. What would a podium finish in both the individual and team championship mean to you?
BRYSON DeCHAMBEAU: “...That would mean the world. That's what we've all fought for. Charles [Howell III] started off really good this year, and he's been consistent. Anirban [Lahiri] has played incredibly well, and Paul [Casey] is picking it up, and I'm excited for the team come Miami. We lost to the Stingers, and it was a big sting - no pun intended, or pun intended I guess - but we want to change that narrative this next week”.
BRYSON DeCHAMBEAU: “You have to respect the field. This field is incredibly talented. You have 48 of the best players in the world, and man, it's always a grind out here. I think that's a testament to how good these guys have played and how consistent they've played throughout the year. It shows how good they are…This golf course sets up really nice for me, but you can still wedge your way around it out here and make some nice putts, and that changes things. You've always got to be careful and just work as hard as you possibly can because these guys are incredibly good out here”.
Q. With one eye on next week at the Team Championships in Miami. Crushers GC are currently second in the standings. What would a podium finish in both the individual and team championship mean to you?
BRYSON DeCHAMBEAU: “...That would mean the world. That's what we've all fought for. Charles [Howell III] started off really good this year, and he's been consistent. Anirban [Lahiri] has played incredibly well, and Paul [Casey] is picking it up, and I'm excited for the team come Miami. We lost to the Stingers, and it was a big sting - no pun intended, or pun intended I guess - but we want to change that narrative this next week”.
Crushers GC captain Bryson DeChambeau is in third place in the individual standings heading into the regular-season finale at LIV Golf Jeddah presented by ROSHN. (Photo by LIV Golf)
THE SCENARIOS FOR THE LIV GOLF LEAGUE TITLE ARE NUMEROUS, AND THERE IS EVEN A WAY IN WHICH EACH OF SMITH, DECHAMBEAU AND GOOCH CAN TIE FOR THE LEAD OF THE STANDINGS. SMITH BEGINS THE WEEK ON 170 POINTS, GOOCH HAS 162 AND DECHAMBEAU HAS 146 POINTS. SO IF SMITH FINISHES NO HIGHER THAN 25TH PLACE, GOOCH FINISHES IN 11TH PLACE AND DECHAMBEAU FINISHES IN 3RD PLACE, ALL THREE PLAYERS WILL TIE ON 170 POINTS. IN THAT CASE THE PLAYER WITH THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF WINS WOULD TAKE THE TITLE, AND THAT WOULD BE TALOR GOOCH. MIKE MCALLISTER EXPLAINS ALL THE PERMUTATIONS ON THE LIV GOLF WEBSITE.
LOUIS OOSTHUIZEN (LEFT) OF LIV GOLF'S STINGER GC AND PETER UIHLEIN (RIGHT) OF LIV GOLF'S 4 ACES GC AT LAST WEEK'S ALFRED DUNHILL LINKS CHAMPIONSHIP (PHOTOS BY MATT HOOPER)
DESPITE THE NARRATIVE SPUN BY OTHERS, THIS HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS FIRST FULL SEASON OF LIV GOLF, AND FOR LIV GOLF PLAYERS COMPETING ON THE OTHER TOURS. THE EVENTS IN ADELAIDE, SINGAPORE, SPAIN AND ENGLAND WERE ABSOLUTELY SUCCESSFUL, WITH GOOD CROWDS AND COMPELLING LEADERBOARDS, AND WE HAVE SEEN PLAYERS EMERGE AS STARS OF THE NOW, AND STARS OF THE FUTURE.
EUGENIO CHACARRA AND DAVID PUIG WON INTERNATIONAL SERIES EVENTS, EFFECTIVELY THE SECONDARY SERIES TO LIV GOLF AND THE PREMIER SERIES ON THE ASIAN TOUR. CHACARRA WON IN ST ANDREWS AFTER A TRULY REMARKABLE 10-HOLE PLAYOFF AGAINST MATT JONES. DAVID PUIG WON THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES EVENT IN SINGAPORE LAST WEEK, DOMINATING FROM START TO FINISH, FOLLOWING BLOWING THE 54-HOLE LEAD IN ST ANDREWS.
EUGENIO CHACARRA (LEFT) OF LIV GOLF'S FIREBALLS GC AND MATT HONES (RIGHT) OF LIV GOLF'S RIPPER GC AT AUGUST'S ST ANDREWS BAY CHAMPIONSHIP (PHOTOS BY MATT HOOPER)
DAVID PUIG WON LAST WEEK ON THE ASIAN TOUR (PHOTO BY MATT HOOPER)
OF COURSE, LIV GOLFERS ARE STILL SUSPENDED FROM THE PGA TOUR, BUT SOME CURRENT AND FORMER LIV GOLFERS HAVE APPEARED AT EVENTS ON THE DP WORLD TOUR IN RECENT WEEKS. LAST WEEK AT THE ALFRED DUNHILL LINKS CHAMPIONSHIP DEAN BURMESTER, TALOR GOOCH, PETER UIHLEIN, LOUIS OOSTHUIZEN AND HUDSON SWAFFORD PLAYED AT THE HOME OF GOLF. LAURIE CANTER, RANKED 43RD ON THE LIV GOLF LEAGUE STANDINGS, BUT NOT CURRENTLY SIGNED WITH A TEAM, ALSO PLAYED IN THE PRO-AM EVENT ON THE EAST COAST OF SCOTLAND. ANIRBAN LAHIRI ALSO PLAYED FOR INDIA IN THE ASIAN GAMES IN CHINA.
UNDOUBTEDLY THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR THOUGH, AS FAR AS LIV GOLFERS GOES, WAS BROOKS KOEPKA'S STUNNING VICTORY IN THE PGA CHAMPIONSHIP AT OAK HILL. HIS FIFTH MAJOR TITLE, ALLIED TO A RUNNER-UP FINISH IN THE MASTERS, SHOWED THAT GOLFERS IN THIS LEAGUE CAN STILL COMPETE AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. PHIL MICKLESON, PATRICK REED AND BRYSON DECHAMBEAU ALSO FEATURED AT TIMES DURING THE MAJORS THIS YEAR.
MICKELSON SURGED TO A TIE FOR SECOND AT AUGUSTA WITH A FINAL ROUND OF 65.
WITH ALL THE DISCUSSION, DEBATE AND CONTROVERSY IT WOULD BE EASY TO IGNORE THE ACTUAL GOLF, BUT WHEN YOU DO BLOCK THE NOISE OUT THE GOLF IS JUST AS GOOD AS IT WOULD BE IF THEY WERE PLAYING ON ANY OTHER TOUR. AND WE ARE SET FOR A THRILLING FINALE IN SAUDI ARABIA.
AUSTRALIAN JED MORGAN OF LIV GOLF'S RIPPER GC AT AUGUST'S ST ANDREWS BAY CHAMPIONSHIP - (PHOTO BY MATT HOOPER)
WHILST MOST OF THE FOCUS WILL BE ON THE THREE TITLE CHALLENGERS, ARGUABLY THE BIGGER BATTLE IS THE ONE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TABLE, AND THE FIGHT FOR A PLACE IN THE 2024 LIV GOLF LEAGUE. AFTER THIS EVENT 4 PLAYERS WILL BE RELEGATED FROM THE LIV GOLF LEAGUE, AND FACE AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE, AND CERTAINLY A LESS LUCRATIVE ONE. GOING INTO LIV GOLF JEDDAH CHASE KOEPKA, JED MORGAN, JAMES PIOT AND SIHWAN KIM ARE OCCUPYING THE BOTTOM 4 SPACES ON THE RANKING, AND ALL FACE RELEGATION UNLESS THEY CAN PRODUCE A GOOD PERFORMANCE AT ROYAL GREENS.
FOR JED MORGAN THE REALITY IS HIS FUTURE AWAY FROM LIV GOLF WILL IMMEDIATELY LIE ON THE PGA TOUR OF AUSTRALASIA, THE TOUR WHERE HE HAS FULL STATUS BEING A WINNER OF THE PGA TOUR OF AUSTRALASIA ORDER OF MERIT IN 2022, FOLLOWING HIS RECORD 11-SHOT WIN AT THE AUSTRALIAN PGA CHAMPIONSHIP. IT SEEMS LIKELY HE COULD GET A NUMBER OF SPONSORS INVITATIONS TO ASIAN TOUR EVENTS, PARTICULARLY THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES. THE DROP IN PRIZE MONEY FOR RELEGATED PLAYERS WILL BE ABSOLUTELY MASSIVE - EACH LIV GOLF EVENT CARRIES A $20MILLION PURSE (NOT INCLUDING THE TEAM PURSE), AND IN STARK CONTRAST THE PGA TOUR OF AUSTRALASIA HAS JUST TWO EVENTS WITH PURSES ABOVE $1MILLION.
MORGAN HAS ALREADY WON MORE MONEY IN THE LIV GOLF LEAGUE THAN ANY PLAYER HAS IN ANY SINGLE SEASON IN THE HISTORY OF THE PGA TOUR OF AUSTRALASIA. WHILST MANY PEOPLE GROWL AT THE TALK OF MONEY, IT IS RELEVANT WHEN WE ARE DISCUSSING PLAYERS POTENTIALLY FACING RELEGATION FROM SUCH A LUCRATIVE LEAGUE.
CHASE KOEPKA OF LIV GOLF'S SMASH GC AT AUGUST'S ST ANDREWS BAY CHAMPIONSHIP (PHOTO BY MATT HOOPER)
16TH HOLE AT ROYAL GREENS GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB HUGS THE RED SEA - (PHOTO BY LIV GOLF)
ROSHN RETURNS AS PRESENTING PARTNER OF LIV GOLF JEDDAH
ROSHN, Saudi Arabia’s leading real estate developer, returns as presenting partner for LIV Golf’s momentous regular season finale in Jeddah, taking place October 13-15 at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club.
LIV Golf Jeddah presented by ROSHN marks the season’s penultimate event when the league will crown its 2023 Individual Champion and set the stage for its season-ending team championship. A presenting partner for last year’s Invitational Series tournament won by Brooks Koepka and Smash GC, ROSHN will once again help welcome many of the world’s best players to King Abdullah Economic City.
LIV Golf Jeddah presented by ROSHN marks the season’s penultimate event when the league will crown its 2023 Individual Champion and set the stage for its season-ending team championship. A presenting partner for last year’s Invitational Series tournament won by Brooks Koepka and Smash GC, ROSHN will once again help welcome many of the world’s best players to King Abdullah Economic City.
LIV Golf and ROSHN have committed to a series of initiatives aimed at unlocking the potential of Saudi communities through golf. The programs will be delivered under LIV Golf's purpose strategy 'Potential, Unleashed', which seeks to foster sustainability and deliver impact for communities across the globe.
Commenting on today’s announcement, David Grover, ROSHN’s Group CEO, said: “LIV Golf has brought a new dynamic to professional golf, introducing innovative formats that are shaping the future of the sport and reaching new communities worldwide. We are proud to once again be the presenting partner for this event, with the world’s best golfers competing for the LIV Golf individual title in front of an international audience.”
“LIV Golf is thrilled to welcome back ROSHN as the presenting partner for the league’s regular-season finale in Jeddah," said Monica Fee, LIV Golf Senior Vice President and Global Head of Partnerships. "Collaborations like this are delivering opportunities for both players and fans to enjoy this great sport and make a meaningful impact beyond the course, showcasing how golf is a force for good in communities around the world. We look forward to hosting an exciting tournament with support from ROSHN.”
Commenting on today’s announcement, David Grover, ROSHN’s Group CEO, said: “LIV Golf has brought a new dynamic to professional golf, introducing innovative formats that are shaping the future of the sport and reaching new communities worldwide. We are proud to once again be the presenting partner for this event, with the world’s best golfers competing for the LIV Golf individual title in front of an international audience.”
“LIV Golf is thrilled to welcome back ROSHN as the presenting partner for the league’s regular-season finale in Jeddah," said Monica Fee, LIV Golf Senior Vice President and Global Head of Partnerships. "Collaborations like this are delivering opportunities for both players and fans to enjoy this great sport and make a meaningful impact beyond the course, showcasing how golf is a force for good in communities around the world. We look forward to hosting an exciting tournament with support from ROSHN.”
liv golf jeddah 2023 will be live on YouTube, and livGOLF+ FRIDAY TO SUNDAY FROM 10AM
SHANK WILL HAVE EXTENSIVE COVERAGE OF LIV GOLF JEDDAH 2023 ON SHANKMEDIA.CO.UK/GOLF, WITH DAILY REPORTS ON FRIDAY, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, AS WELL AS FINAL ROUND UPDATES ON FACEBOOK AND X FROM 1PM ON SUNDAY.
