Brooks Koepka claimed his second LIV Golf League win of the season after defeating Jon Rahm in a play-off to claim a dramatic victory at the LIV Golf Greenbrier.
Koepka posted a bogey-free 63 on the final day at The Greenbrier in White Sulfur Springs, West Virginia, including three consecutive birdies, to finish 19 under par with overnight leader Rahm.
Rahm birdied two of the last three holes to match Koepka’s clubhouse total and force a play-off, where the Spaniard made a bogey to allow Koepka to par enough for his fifth LIV Golf League title.
Brooks Koepka has won the LIV Golf event in Singapore this season
Jason Kokrak ended up being taken back in third when Richard Bland, two-time senior major champion this season, missed out on making a three-way play-off when a final-hole bogey dropped him to fourth place.
How Koepka beat Rahm for the LIV Golf title
Rahm took a two-shot lead into the final day and was looking for a second consecutive LIV Golf title, after winning in England last month, but he saw Koepka pull level in six holes.
Jon Rahm carded a five-under 65 in the final round at The Greenbrier
The two exchanged the lead at various points during the final round, with Koepka making three consecutive birdies on the back nine to take a two-over lead with three holes to play.
Rahm responded with birdies on the 16th and 17th to move back alongside Koepka, with both players finishing with a par on the par-three 18th before having to play another hole in a play-off.
Koepka teed off 25 feet from the flag as Rahm finished in the back bunker, with the fifth major winner then hitting a winning par as Rahm failed to get up and down to extend the contest.
“We’ve done it a few times, and it’s always a crowd pleaser,” Rahm said. “It’s fun for us and it’s obviously more fun for whoever wins, but it always looks down about it. Last time I had a putt to win on 18, and this time he ended up winning”.
It was Koepka’s second success as his Smash GC claimed the team title, with him, Jason Kokrak, Talor Gooch and John Catlin – filling in for the suspended Graeme McDowell – combining for a record-equalling 53 under.
Bland shared fourth place with Australia’s Marc Leishman, while US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau finished 15th and eight strokes back.
“I think it means a little bit more, over the last couple of years playing Jon and obviously he’s better than me at Augusta,” Koepka said. “I just want to beat him. He played phenomenal today. The way he finished down the stretch was pretty clutch, and it was fun to watch him this week.”
Watch the entire FedExCup Playoffs live on Sky Sports Golf. Sky Sports+ has been officially launched and will be integrated into Sky TV, the NOW streaming service and the Sky Sports app, giving Sky Sports customers access to over 50 per cent more live sports this year at no additional cost. Find out more here.
