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Brooks Koepka has become the first man to win two separate tournaments in LIV Golf after winning this season’s third event on the new Saudi-backed golf tour. Koepka, who won in Jeddah during year one of the tour, finished on -15 after three rounds at Orange County National and pocketed a handy $4m in the process.
Koepka took a three-shot lead into the final day of action in Orlando and managed to just about hold off Sebastian Munoz down the stretch to win by a single shot. The Colombian threw everything he could at Koepka during the final round and made things particularly difficult for him when he chipped in for a birdie on the 16th hole.
Koepka then had a chance to effectively seal the deal on the 17th but missed a 5-foot birdie pott when Munoz had already had to settle for par. It meant a tense finish on the 18th in Orlando and both left themselves long putts for birdie. Koepka went first and play conservatively to guarantee a two-putt par and Munoz couldn’t do any better.
Speaking after his win, Koepka said:
“If I would have hit a few putts harder, it would have been easier. I’m just happy to win and going into next week, that’s what you want to see. You look at everything I’ve been through, I’m finally healthy. It’s good to play some good golf, I get chills thinking what I’m capable of.”
Well well well…look what we have here—Brooksy alive and well heading into major season.
Koepka wins LIV Orlando and now has 2 wins in last 6 starts. Serious momentum heading into the Masters. And PReed 3rd. As if this week needed any more juice. Let’s go.
— Dan Rapaport (@Daniel_Rapaport) April 2, 2023
A consolation prize for Munoz
Although Munoz missed out on the individual win in Orlando, his performance did secure a team victory for Torque GC. The team, which is comprised of Munoz, David Puig and Mito Pereira, had never won a team prize before this weekend and Munoz admitted that it was in the back of his mind as he played the 18th.
Standing over his 40-foot birdie putt, the 30-year-old knew that he needed a birdie to tie with Koepka in the individual standings but also knew that if he was too aggressive and ended up three-putting then he could have cost his team the group prize as their advantage was also just one-shot. In the end, he played a conservative putt and settled for par.
Speaking after his performance, Munoz told reporters:
“It’s weird because I knew we were one stroke ahead on the team so I couldn’t go extra. I knew I couldn’t be too aggressive. He got the individual, we got the team. I call it a tie.”
Looking ahead to the Masters
All eyes now turn to Augusta National where 18 players from LIV will join their PGA Tour counterparts for the Masters. Given the hostility between some of LIV’s top players and some of the PGA Tour’s top players, this week has the potential for fireworks and a Ryder Cup-like atmosphere.
Greg Norman, the CEO of LIV, has stoked the flames further by saying that the LIV players who are competing at Augusta this week are all planning on celebrating together on the 18th green if one of them gets the win on Sunday. He said:
“They are saying no matter who wins, no matter who is in that position, we are going to be there on the 18th green. When you walk up 18, your caddie hugs you then you see your wife or your mum and dad. Now, to have those 17 other guys there, that’s the spirit we want.”
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