Brooks Koepka emerged victorious in a thrilling playoff against Jon Rahm to capture the LIV Golf Greenbrier title on Sunday, marking his fifth career win on the Saudi-backed series. Koepka’s triumph comes as a result of his impressive performance throughout the final round, where he engaged in a fierce battle with Rahm.
Koepka, a five-time major champion, secured the win by sinking a par on the first playoff hole while Rahm unfortunately recorded a bogey. Reflecting on his victory, Koepka expressed that this particular win holds a special place in his heart due to the intense competition he faced from Rahm.
“This is probably my favorite one. It’s always good when you have to battle good players,” Koepka shared. “Jon is a hell of a player. For whatever reason, he has always gotten the better of me a little bit as of late. It feels nice just to get one,” he added.
Despite Rahm’s previous victory over Koepka at the 2023 Masters, Koepka emphasized that it didn’t serve as extra motivation for this tournament. “I wasn’t thinking about it. Just one of those things. Let’s go play golf. It’s a good win,” he stated.
Both Koepka and Rahm finished the 54-hole tournament at the Old White course in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, with a score of 19-under 191. Koepka achieved this by shooting a seven-under-par 63 in the final round, while Rahm carded a 65.
American Jason Kokrak secured third place with an impressive 18-under score. England’s Richard Bland and Australia’s Marc Leishman tied for fourth place at 17-under. The playoff itself was a tense affair. Rahm’s tee shot on the par-3 18th hole landed on the back edge of a bunker. Despite his best efforts, he was unable to make a par putt, which allowed Koepka to clinch the victory.
The win marks Koepka’s fifth LIV Golf title, adding to his previous victories in Jeddah (2022 and 2023), Orlando (2023), and Singapore. Notably, he also boasts major championship wins at the 2017 and 2018 US Opens and the 2018, 2019, and 2023 PGA Championships.
Rahm, who previously won the 2021 US Open, transitioned from the PGA Tour to LIV Golf in December 2022. His first LIV Golf win came last month at LIV Golf UK in Centurion, England. Despite the recent defeat, Rahm remains second in the season standings, trailing Joaquin Niemann of Chile. The season title will be decided at the regular-season finale in Chicago next month.
The final round witnessed a back-and-forth battle between Koepka and Rahm. Rahm initially took the lead with a birdie at the 10th hole, matching Koepka’s score at 16-under. Bland, however, briefly seized the lead at 17-under after stringing together three birdies followed by an eagle at the 12th hole. Koepka, however, quickly matched Bland’s score with a birdie at the 12th hole and then took the lead at 18-under with a birdie at the 13th. Rahm also birdied the 13th to stay within striking distance.
Koepka further solidified his lead with another birdie at the 14th hole, establishing a two-stroke advantage. However, Rahm responded with birdies at the 16th and 17th holes, tying Koepka, who missed a birdie putt on the 17th. Both players parred the 18th hole, sending the tournament to a playoff.
In the earlier stages of the final round, Rahm opened with a birdie to reach 15-under and a two-stroke lead. Koepka, however, kept pace, carding birdies on two of his first three holes to reduce the deficit to one stroke. Both players birdied the fourth hole. Rahm incurred a bogey at the sixth hole, while Koepka took the lead with a birdie at the seventh hole.
Koepka’s team, Smash, also won the team competition, defeating the all-Australian Ripper squad by three strokes. The team, which includes Kokrak, finished with a combined score of 53-under.
