Big paydays for McDowell and Meadow as Gooch wins $18 million
Talor Gooch of RangeGoats GC celebrates after winning the 2023 LIV Golf Individual Championship after the playoff round of LIV Golf Jeddah at the Royal Greens Golf & Country Club on Sunday, October 15, 2023 in King Abdullah Economic City, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Chris Trotman/LIV Golf)
Graeme McDowell took his career earnings from the LIV Golf series to a mouthwatering $5 million when he finished a modest 29th in the LIV Jeddah event in Saudi Arabia.
The Portrush native, who has yet to add to his top-10 finish in the series opener in London in 2022, closed with a seven-under 63 to finish nine shots outside a playoff between Brooks Koepka and Talor Gooch.
He picked up $289,714 (plus his share of a $500,000 team bonus) to take his season’s earnings over $2.5 million as Koepka beat Gooch at the second extra hole to win the individual title at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club in King Abdullah Economic City.
It was Koepka’s first win since becoming a father but Gooch, who made $9.25 million in 123 starts on the PGA Tour, claimed the season-long points race and a whopping $18 million bonus.
“So my wife and I have a foundation that we started, and first and foremost it's going to do a lot of good back home for a lot of kids,” said Gooch. “That's going to be the focus.”
MADRID, SPAIN - OCTOBER 15: Matthieu Pavon of France following his win in the acciona Open de Espana presented by Madrid at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid on October 15, 2023. Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images
Gooch also picked up an extra $2.25 million for finishing second to Koepka, who pocketed $4 million for the win to take his season’s earnings worldwide beyond $13 million.
There was just $3.25 million in the prize fund at the acciona Open de España presented by Madrid but France’s Matthieu Pavon (30) was thrilled to claim his maiden title by four shots from South Africa’s Xander Lombard on 23-under-par and end his seven-year wait for a DP World Tour win.
Two stokes clear of Nathan Kimsey overnight, he closed with a bogey-free, seven-under 63 to complete a memorable, wire-to-wire-victory in the city where his late grandfather was born.
“He is up there, I think he will be very proud of me,” an emotional Pavon said after winning “just” €523,823. “That was a long wait, seven years on the DP World Tour and I didn't have win yet, hadn't won on the Challenge Tour before so that was a long wait but it really was worth it.”
Defending champion Jon Rahm closed with a 64 to finish tied ninth on 14-under par.
Meanwhile, Stephanie Meadow added a bogey-free, seven under 65 to her third round 66 to finish tied eighth in the Buick LPGA Shanghai and boost her chances of making the 60-strong field for the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship.
The Jordanstown star went bogey-free for the second day running to finish just two shots outside a playoff that saw Angela Yin beat world number one Lilia Vu with a birdie on the first extra hole.
“It's great,” Meadow said after winning $43,644. “Obviously being sponsored by CME, the last thing I want to do is not be there.”
Up to 66th in the standings with four regular-season events remaining, she added: “Hopefully I can keep plugging along here and make my way in.”
