Four-time Major winner Brooks Koepka signified his return to full fitness on the eve of Masters week with the second victory of his LIV Golf career.
Plagued in recent years with injuries to patella tendons in both legs and in his right kneecap, which required surgery, Koepka left the PGA Tour last year as an eight-time winner for a lucrative deal with LIV Golf, the Saudi-backed rival league which offered huge signing bonuses and 54-hole events with no cut and $US25 million purses.
Koepka shot a final-round, three-under par 68 today at LIV’s Orlando tournament at Orange County National, the former host to the PGA Tour’s Qualifying School. He posted a 15-under total to win by one shot over Colombia’s Sebastián Muñoz (66).
Former Masters champion Patrick Reed (67) and South Africa’s Dean Burmester (64) tied for third.
Koepka won his second LIV title since joining the league last June, having also claimed the event in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Koepka won $US4 million for the individual victory and $US375,000 for his quarter of his Smash GC team winning $US1.5 million for its second-place finish. Captain Joaquin Niemann’s Torque GC won the $US5 million team portion of the event.
The 32-year-old Koepka became the first player among LIV’s 48-player roster to win two of its individual tournaments.
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Koepka said the second was more satisfying than his victory in Saudi Arabia, despite that one being emotional given it ended a 20-month win drought for a player who, from 2017 to 2019, was among the most feared golfers in the world. In Saudi Arabia, Koepka had said his injuries raised fears that he “didn’t know if my career was over for a second”.
“Yeah I think [it’s more rewarding than Jeddah],” Koepka said in Orlando. “Look at everything I’ve been through. I’m finally healthy man. It’s nice to play some good golf.
“It gives me chills to think about the capabilities [I have] do when I’m healthy and everything going into next week, it’s good to see.”
Next week, of course, is the 87th Masters at Augusta National, where Koepka and 17 other LIV golfers will tee up. Koepka has unfinished business at Augusta, having tied for second place behind Tiger Woods during Woods’ epic 2019 victory – his fifth Masters green jacket.
LIV’s Orlando venue – the Crooked Cat course at Orange County National – was criticised for a lack of quality and challenge to elite players, but Koepka said that should not be the case.
“I actually think this was a good test for Augusta greens,” Koepka said. “The greens were fast, similar to Augusta and on some good slopes. I’m just happy to get the win.”
