Dallas recap: Smash GC ends 2024 on frustrating note after successful regular season

CARROLLTON, Texas – On Thursday, Smash GC Brooks Koepka and his teammates had a decision to make. Which team would he pick to face in Friday’s quarterfinals matches. The choice for most was obvious. Iron Heads GC was dead last in the final 2024 team standings and had not made it on the podium all year. 

“Just went from the bottom (of the standings) up,” Koepka said Thursday during the captains’ selection show. “I think that’s the way we did it. I just felt like we’ve got a good chance. We’ll see what happens.” 

What happened was a stunning upset by the Iron Heads despite stellar play from Koepka. It what was quickly named “Upset Friday” at Maridoe Golf Club, Smash GC entered as the No. 4 seed but lost 2-1 to the No. 13-seed Iron Heads. 

Koepka more than did his part, obliterating Kevin Na 6&5 in a singles match to earn Smash GC a valuable point. But Talor Gooch lost to Danny Lee 1-up in the other singles match before a stunner occurred in foursomes. The team of Jason Kokrak and Graeme McDowell was defeated by Jinichiro Kozuma and Scott Vincent in 19 holes, earning the team’s its second point and advancing to Saturday’s semifinals. 

Smash GC entered Sunday’s Finals in Tier 3 with four other teams. The highest a team could finish in that tier was No. 9, and Smash GC finished the day at No. 13 after shooting 12-over as a team. 

The team can take some solace into the offseason by looking back on a highly successful 2024, mainly in the regular season. Smash GC won events in Las Vegas and Greenbrier, and added three other finishes of T3 or better. That bodes well as the team shifts its focus to 2025 when it will once again be one of the top teams to beat week.