Brooks Koepka claims LIV Jeddah title in playoff

Brooks Koepka sank a birdie putt on the third gap of a playoff to defeat Peter Uihlein and win the LIV Golf Invitational Jeddah on Sunday in Saudi Arabia.

Koepka opened the match with an 8-under-par 62 at Royal Greens Golf & Nation Membership, however Uihlein took a one-shot lead after a second-round 63. On Sunday, Koepka shot a 69 and Uihlein a 70 to tie at 12 beneath for the weekend.

They every birdied the primary two playoff holes earlier than Uihlein discovered the sand and hit his third shot from there right into a water hazard. Koepka rolled in one other birdie, and in doing so clinched his first match title wherever for the reason that Waste Administration Phoenix Open in February 2021.

Koepka had not been faring nicely even previous to departing the PGA Tour for the Saudi-financed startup. The four-time main champion had struggled to get previous a number of nagging accidents.

"It has been earlier than LIV, after I blew my knee out and my foot was pointed that approach, nearly backwards and sideways," Koepka mentioned. "Credit score to (orthopedic surgeon Neal) ElAttrache. Throw his title on the market. I nonetheless -- I imply, finally I'll must have knee alternative in a number of years, however I did not know what was -- I wasn't certain whether or not I may even transfer the identical approach and if I wish to play if I may transfer the best way I needed.

"I am lucky be within the spot that I am in proper now."

Koepka overcame a string of three straight bogeys at Nos. 11-13 earlier than ending off his 69. Koepka and Uihlein every birdied the par-5 18th to get to 12 beneath, one stroke forward of Chile's Joaquin Niemann (65) and Spain's Sergio Garcia (68), who tied for third at 11 beneath.

Matthew Wolff (66), Dustin Johnson (67) and England's Paul Casey (68) tied for seventh at 10 beneath.

Uihlein performs on Koepka's Group Smash, which mixed for 33 beneath this week for a straightforward six-stroke win within the crew competitors. Koepka's brother Chase Koepka and Jason Kokrak spherical out Smash's lineup.

Together with his win, Brooks Koepka additionally cemented second place within the season standings, which supplies one other $8 million bonus, and Uihlein pulled into third to win a $4 million bonus. Johnson beforehand clinched the $18 million bonus for first.

"Only a lot happier out right here than I've been the final 5 years taking part in on (the PGA Tour)," Uihlein mentioned. "The crew side of it I like. I used to be by no means actually a fan of the lone wolf sort of factor that we needed to do. However being part of the crew, training, hanging out, sort of like faculty. It resonates with me and sticks with me. I actually prefer it."

Whereas LIV Golf is broadly identified for being financed by Saudi backers, this was the primary LIV match to be held in Saudi Arabia. It was the seventh and remaining match of the common season earlier than the crew championship later this month in Miami.