KING ABDULLAH ECONOMIC CITY, Saudi Arabia – Smash GC Captain Brooks Koepka shot a bogey-free 8-under 62 to move one step closer to a successful title defense at LIV Golf Jeddah presented by ROSHN.
Koepka will enter the final round at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club with a three-shot advantage as he seeks his third tournament title since joining LIV Golf and his second win this season. Koepka won in Orlando earlier this year.
Last year, Koepka opened with a 62 en route to winning Jeddah in an playoff against then-Smash teammate Peter Uihlein. That round was very similar to Saturday’s 62, as Koepka made his biggest moves on Royal Greens’ front nine. On Saturday, he birdied six of his first eight holes.
“I don’t even remember the 62 I shot here last year,” Koepka said, who has shot 62 at least four times in his professional career.
At 12 under for the tournament, he leads Fireballs GC Captain Sergio Garcia and the Crushers’ Charles Howell III by three strokes.
Koepka started the tournament too far back in points to challenge for the Individual title, but he does have an opportunity to finish third in the standings and claim a $4 million bonus. He must repeat as tournament champion and hope Crushers GC Captain Bryson DeChambeau finishes no better than 14th. DeChambeau is currently tied for fourth.
“Just keep doing what I’m doing,” Koepka said. “Seems to be working since I’m at the top.”
Smash also has a chance to repeat as team champions in Jeddah. The team is tied for second at 19 under, three strokes behind the Crushers.
Saturday’s three counting scores for Smash included Koepka’s 62 and 5-under 65s from Jason Kokrak and Matthew Wolff. That’s 18 under for 54 holes played – and all three players went bogey-free.
“Never really felt like I had a chance to make a bogey,” Koepka said.