LIV Golf TOUR
Jeddah
Koepka Scores Playoff Win At LIV Jeddah Invitational
Brooks Koepka outlasted Peter Uihlein at the third playoff hole to win the LIV Golf Jeddah Invitational in Saudi Arabia. It was the former world No. 1’s first title in 20 months. Koepka’s previous victory was at the Waste Management Phoenix Open in February last year. The 33-year-old American sealed the win at Royal Greens and Country Club in King Abdullah Economic City with a birdie. Koepka and fellow countryman Uihlein matched each other birdie for birdie at the first two extra holes.
Koepka jumped out of the blocks to lead the event after round one with a sensational 8-under 62. The four-time major winner followed his low round with a 3-under 67 on Saturday to head into the final round one-shot behind Uihlein who posted rounds of 65 and 63. Both players struggled on Sunday to close out the event with Koepka managing a 1-under 69 and Uihlein producing an even par 70. The pair eventually reached the playoff with their 12-under tally one-shot better than Chile’s Joaquin Niemann and Spain’s Sergio Garcia. Niemann fired a stunning 5-under 65. Garcia carded a final round 2-under 68.
Americans Matthew Wolff (66) and Dustin Johnson (67) along with England’s Paul Casey (68) took a share of fifth place at 10-under.
Jed Morgan was the best-placed Australian. The 22-year-old, who won the Australian PGA Championship in January this year, enjoyed three steady rounds of 67, 68 and 68 to get to 7-under and finish in a tie for 12th place. It was his best result from his seven LIV Golf starts.
Smash Golf Club won the Team event at 33-under by six shots over the Fireballs Golf Club. Koepka and Uihlein were joined by Chase Koepka and Jason Kokrak with the four-person team victory. The group will split US$3 million in prizemoney.
The Jeddah Invitational was the seventh and final LIV Golf Invitational for individual play. The last event of the inaugural season will be a Team Championship staged in Miami at the iconic Blue Monster at Trump National Doral from October 28-30.
Final Scores
Jeddah Invitational
1. Brooks Koepka -12
2. Peter Uihlein -12
T3. Joaquin Niemann -11
T3. Sergio Garcia -11
T5. Matthew Wolff -10
T5. Dustin Johnson -10
T5. Paul Casey -10
Australians
T12. Jed Morgan -7
T21. Cam Smith -5
T35. Marc Leishman -1
T35. Wade Ormsby -1
45. Matt Jones +3
Photo credit: Montana Pritchard/LIV Golf via Getty Images
