Andalucía Recap: Smash GC looks to move on from Valderrama

Real Club Valderrama proved to be a historically tough test for nearly every team at LIV Golf Andalucía. Just ask Smash GC.

The team will look to flush the negatives from Valderrama after a last-place finish following three days of challenging conditions that tested some of the world’s best players on one of golf’s most iconic layouts.

In fact, the opening round went down as the toughest day in LIV Golf history. Friday’s field stroke average of 3.519 over par was the highest for any of LIV Golf’s 88 regular-season rounds. Collectively, the field was 190 over, and just one hole played under par, the par-5 11th.

So as disappointed as the team was following Sunday’s final round, it wasn’t the only one to feel dismayed. Smash GC, which finished at 23-over par for the week, exits Valderrama at No. 7 in the season-long team standings.

Captain Brooks Koepka led the way for his team throughout the week. He finished in T27 place at 6 over for the week. His 3-under 68 on Saturday was one of the best rounds of the day as he displayed an impressive mix of power and feel.

Koepka didn’t get much help from his teammates. Jason Kokrak finished T35 while Graeme McDowell (T42) and Talor Gooch (T45) had equally frustrating weeks. Gooch won the individual title here in 2023 but couldn’t quite find the same mojo.

The busy stretch for a lot of LIV Golf members continues this week at The Open Championship at Royal Troon. Koepka will be playing in his 10th Open Championship and is looking to add to his Hall of Fame career which includes five major titles, including his most recent major victory at the 2023 PGA Championship. Koepka has four top-10 finishes at The Open and his best result was a T4 at Royal Portrush in 2019. He also finished T6 at Royal St George’s in 2021.

The full team will be back in action on the LIV Golf League in two weeks at LIV Golf UK at JCB Golf & Country Club.