Talor Gooch backs up Ryder Cup comments with third LIV Golf win in 2023
Talor Gooch claimed his third LIV Golf League event of 2023 at Valderrama, denying Bryson DeChambeau his first victory on the breakaway tour.
Talor Gooch denied Bryson DeChambeau his first LIV Golf League victory with a birdie-birdie finish at Valderrama.
Gooch has now won three LIV Golf events this season having already tasted victory in Adelaide and Singapore.
The American, who won those events back-to-back, defeated DeChambeau by one stroke in Andalucia.
Gooch is in fine form in 2023 and immediately after he finished his third round he talked up his chances of earning a spot in Zach Johnson's U.S. side for the forthcoming Ryder Cup.
Ordinarily it would not be unreasonable to suggest that an American on the verge of his third victory inside 10 weeks but be a lock for the team.
Related: LIV Golf pro given slow play penalty
But as you no doubt know these are frantic times in the world of men's professional golf.
"I think my play has shown that it's at least worth a discussion," Gooch said.
"The better I play, the more that is just going to be a discussion hopefully. I've got to go win, and I've got to go prove that I'm worthy of having a discussion about."
"To beat two major champions on a historical golf course, on the last green, with the last putt. It's what dream are made of" @TalorGooch#LIVGolf @RangeGoatsGC pic.twitter.com/oQhTrqv8QT
— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) July 2, 2023
Gooch has now taken his 2023 on course earnings to north of $12m by scooping the top prize of $4m.
The 31-year-old was carving out a more than respectable PGA Tour career when he made the jump to the breakaway tour last June.
He has been one of the players not shy of bragging about LIV or fanning the flames on social media.
Here in Andalucia, he shot a final round of 4-under 67 to finish at 12-under and beat DeChambeau by one and 2023 PGA Championship winner Brooks Koepka by three.
There were also top-10 finishes for Dustin Johnson - who hit one of the worst shanks he's likely ever hit as a professional on day two - and Joaquin Niemann.
At the other end of the leaderboard Sihwan Kim's misery continued as he finished dead last again, shooting 17-over par across 54 holes.
The aforementioned Niemann's Torque won the team element, beating Bubba Watson's RangeGoats by five strokes, with DeChambeau's Crushers placing third.
Next week the rival league heads to Centurion Club for the ninth event of the season.
Final leaderboard
- T. Gooch -12
- B. DeChambeau -11
- B. Koepka -9
- S. Munoz -6
- P. Reed, J. Kokrak, D. Duig -4
- C. Tringale, D. Johnson -3
- J. Niemann -2
Teams
- Torque -16
- RangeGoats -11
- Crushers -7
- 4Aces -6
- Smash -4
- Fireballs -1
- Majesticks E
- HyFLyers, Stinger +1
- Ripper +2
- Iron Heads +13
- CLeeks +14