'That's Some Exceptional Play' - LIV Players React To Talor Gooch's Adelaide Performance
Talor Gooch holds a 10-shot lead at LIV's Adelaide event, with the American firing two 10-under-par rounds of 62
![Gooch smiles whilst wearing a white top with LIV logos on it](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SnWHYj2jTHkUYjqia9tuXa-1280-80.jpg)
Even in professional golf, you will struggle to see two rounds as spectacular as Talor Gooch's, with the American firing back-to-back 62s as he amassed an almost unassailable lead of 10 shots with just 18 holes remaining in Adelaide.
During his first round, Gooch carded 10 birdies and eight pars, with the 31-year-old then producing an eagle, eight birdies and eight pars on Saturday to sit 10 clear of the next six players at 10-under-par, which include Brooks Koepka and Louis Oosthuizen.
A post shared by LIV Golf (@livgolf_league)
A photo posted by on
Speaking about his incredible display, Gooch stated that: "You know, it's hard to say. Everything is just going my way. I'm hitting the ball where I want it to go. A couple times where I missed some shots, I ended up in a decent spot, and yeah, it's just a lot of people have asked the last 24 hours, how did you do it, give me the secret basically, and it's like, if I had the secret, we would write that book and everyone would know it. The game is feeling really good right now and, hopefully, we can keep it going."
Obviously, with such a big statement being made by the Range Goats GC player, it has drawn attention from his fellow LIV players, with six-time Major winner, and recent Masters runner-up finisher, Phil Mickelson, claiming that it's "a rarity to have after two rounds such a big lead by Talor Gooch. That's some exceptional play. To have a 10-shot lead after two rounds, that's almost unheard of. It doesn't happen often. I don't know if it's ever happened here on LIV Golf."
Along with Mickelson, Range Goats GC Captain, Bubba Watson, had nothing but praise for his fellow teammate, as he stated: "It's funny, we joked yesterday, for us to get the podium, he's going to have to shoot 30-under. I guess he took it to heart, shot 10-under each day. He's playing great... He's such a steady player, Gooch is, and around this golf course, you've got to put the ball in certain positions, and he's doing that obviously nicely."
In 2022, Gooch was part of the 4Aces team which secured multiple LIV team event titles
Two of the players who lie 10 back of Gooch are Oosthuizen and Koepka, with both men claiming that it'll be "tough to beat" the American over the final day. Such was the surprising nature of his low round, Oosthuizen claimed that 20-under after two rounds is "sort of unheard of."
Looking to take home the $4 million first prize, which will be the biggest payday of his career, Gooch will begin the final day comfortably ahead of a number of players, with a record comeback being needed for them to pick up the title. For reference, the biggest comeback in PGA Tour history came at the 1999 Open Championship, where Paul Lawrie claimed the Claret Jug after Jean Van de Velde's infamous 72nd hole antics at Carnoustie.
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
Matt joined Golf Monthly in February 2021 covering weekend news, before also transitioning to equipment and testing. After freelancing for Golf Monthly and The PGA for 18 months, he was offered a full-time position at the company in October 2022 and continues to cover weekend news and social media, as well as help look after Golf Monthly’s many buyers’ guides and equipment reviews.
Taking up the game when he was just seven years of age, Matt made it into his county squad just a year later and continues to play the game at a high standard, with a handicap of around 2-4. To date, his best round came in 2016, where he shot a six-under-par 66 having been seven-under through nine holes. He currently plays at Witney Lakes in Oxfordshire and his favourite player is Rory McIlroy, despite nearly being struck by his second shot at the 17th during the 2015 BMW PGA Championship.
Matt’s current What’s In The Bag?
Driver: Honma TW747, 8.75°
Fairway Wood: TaylorMade Rocketballz Stage 2, 15°, 19°
Hybrid: Adams Super Hybrid, 22°
Irons: Mizuno MP54, 5-PW
Wedges: Cleveland 588 RTX 2.0 Tour Satin, 50°, 56°, 60°
Putter: Cleveland TFI 2135 Satin Cero
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
-
Australian Professional Gets LIV Golf Adelaide Call-Up
Wade Ormsby will tee it up in his home city of Adelaide for the LIV Golf event, with the Australian making a second straight start as injury cover for Iron Heads GC
By Matt Cradock Published
-
'If Golf Truly Wants To Be Inclusive, We Don’t Just Need Diverse Faces In Ads, We Need Boots On The Ground Actively Educating Families On Where And How They Can Start Playing'
Coach Shayain has experienced first-hand the barriers that minority golfers face, but the sport is ready for a shift and she's helping to lead the way
By Carly Cummins Published
-
'I Don't Think I Could Have Won The PGA Without Blowing The Masters' - Brooks Koepka Believes Augusta 'Choke' Can Fuel Quest For Double-Digit Majors
Speaking to LIV Golf's Rick Shiels in a match on YouTube, Kopeka revealed how he dealt with defeat at the 2023 Masters and how it helped him land Major No.5
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
Phil Mickelson Gives His Verdict On LIV Golf's TV Deal
Phil Mickelson says LIV Golf is the only global golf brand as he celebrated the big TV deal with FOX Sports he hopes will help the team golf tour really kick on
By Paul Higham Published
-
Phil Mickelson’s LIV Golf Team Signs With Grant Horvat’s Apparel Company
Primo - partially owned by influencer, Grant Horvat - has been designated as the “official golf apparel sponsor” of Phil Mickelson's HyFlyers GC
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
The Coat, Hit-It-Further Juice, And Player's Dad Struck With Ball: The Showdown Moments You Might Have Missed
Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy cruised to victory at the much-anticipated TV match against Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka, and there were a handful of notable moments along the way at Shadow Creek
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
The Showdown Payout: What Did Scottie Scheffler And Rory McIlroy Win In Vegas?
Scheffler and McIlroy dominated proceedings at The Showdown and, in the process, secured a $5 million payday each in the form of the crypto-based coin 'CRO'
By Matt Cradock Published
-
How To Watch The Showdown: Live Stream, TV Channels For Scheffler & McIlroy vs Koepka & DeChambeau
The PGA Tour vs LIV Golf League pairs match is being played for a reported purse of $10million in cryptocurrency
By Roderick Easdale Last updated
-
The Showdown: What You Need To Know Ahead Of PGA Tour Vs LIV Golf Clash
Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy are preparing to take on Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau in an exhibition match at Shadow Creek Golf Club
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
LIV Golf Pair Hint At Ryder Cup-Style Match Against PGA Tour
Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau have hinted that their 'Showdown' match with Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler could be just a preview of a Ryder Cup style LIV Golf-PGA Tour clash in the future
By Paul Higham Published