Talor Gooch held his nerve down the stretch at Valderrama to claim his fourth individual LIV Golf title on Sunday, edging Legion XIII Captain Jon Rahm by one stroke in a tightly contested finish to LIV Golf Andalucía.
The Smash GC star carded a final-round one-under 70 to finish on eight-under 208 for the week, following up his Saturday 66 to secure his first win since 2023.
Gooch now owns two of the three LIV titles contested at the famed Spanish layout and reaffirmed his affinity for Valderrama.
Rahm made a charge with a brilliant six-under 65 – tied for the low round of the day with Ripper GC’s Matt Jones – and briefly pulled level with Gooch at seven under as the pair headed for the closing holes. But Gooch responded with a composed birdie on the par-five 17th, and a tap-in par at the last sealed the title.
“Talor was steady all day,” said Smash GC teammate Jason Kokrak. “You have to grind at Valderrama, and he did that all week.”
Rahm had his own reasons to celebrate. His Legion XIII outfit claimed the team title at five under for the week, edging Fireballs GC by two strokes. It was the team’s third win of the season – all coming outside the US (Riyadh, Mexico City and now Spain).
The Spaniard was backed by superb final rounds from Tom McKibbin (66) and Caleb Surratt, who bounced back from an opening-nine 40 with five birdies on his closing loop to post a one-under 70. Tyrrell Hatton added a steady 70 of his own to help secure the silverware.
South Africa’s Branden Grace capped off a strong week with a final-round 69 to finish in a share of fourth at five-under 211 – his best result of the season. The Stinger GC man’s three-round tally came at a crucial time in the campaign as he fights to avoid relegation from the league. He is now projected to jump from 49th to 34th in the individual standings – safely inside the Drop Zone cutoff.
Compatriot Louis Oosthuizen closed with a one-under 70 to finish in the middle of the pack.
Abraham Ancer finished third at six under after a 66, his best showing since LIV Golf Adelaide.
There was more frustration for 4Aces GC, who for the third consecutive event failed to convert a 36-hole lead into victory. They finished tied third in the team standings alongside Smash GC. Kokrak led the way for the latter with a 69.
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Photo: Zhizhao Wu/Getty Images
Article Link: Gooch back on top at LIV Golf Andalucía