Associated Press6:54 p.m. Eastern Time4 minute read
Brooks Koepka talks about his form before the Masters
Brooks Koepka talks about getting in shape at LIV Golf-Orlando before heading to Augusta for the Masters.
ORLANDO, Fla. — Brooks Koepka became the first multiple winner at LIV Golf when he closed with a 3-under 68, making a 4-foot par putt on the final hole for a one-shot victory over Sebastián Munoz.
LIV Golf-Orlando arrived a week before Koepka and 17 other players from the Saudi-funded league head to Augusta National for the Masters.
“Going into next week, that’s what you want to see,” said Koepka, who finished at 15-under-par 198 at the Orange County National.
Munoz was trying to stay with Koepka on the back nine and he didn’t go away easily. He fell two shots behind when he sent a bunker shot flying over the green at the par-5 14. And while he did well to fight for par, Koepka made a short birdie.
Muñoz rallied by chipping in for birdie at the 16th to cut the deficit to one. But on the par-5 17th hole, the easiest hole in Orange County, the Colombian golfer again hit a bunker shot on the green. He made another par and Koepka gave him hope by missing a 5-foot birdie.
The final hole yielded an insight from the LIV Golf team member.
Koepka and Munoz were about 40 feet apart for birdie. Koepka went first and left the putt just over 4 feet away. Muñoz needed to birdie to force a tiebreaker. However, his Torque team had a one hit advantage over the Smash team led by Koepka.
Had he putt too hard and hit a three-putt bogey, Munoz could have cost Torque the team title. He dropped him to just under 4 feet and made the pair as Torque won a tag team competition for the first time.
“It’s strange, because I knew we were one shot ahead in the team, so I couldn’t go any further. I knew I couldn’t be too aggressive,” Munoz said.
“He has the individual, we have the team. I call it a draw.”
Patrick Reed (68) and Dean Burmester (64) tied for third.
It may not look like a draw for Koepka’s bank account. He won $4 million. Koepka’s previous LIV title was in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia last year.
He has been battling various injuries for nearly two years and said he feels like he is healthy for the first time in years when he travels to Augusta.
“You look at everything I’ve been through, I’m finally healthy,” he said. “It’s good to play good golf. It gives me chills to think of what I’m capable of.”
Koepka said Orange County National, previously used for the PGA Tour qualifying tournament, was a good test for the Masters because the greens were fast and exhausted.
“If I had hit a few harder putts, it would have been easier,” he said of the tight finish with Munoz. “I’m happy to win.”
