SAN ROQUE, Spain – Two years after posting his last LIV Golf win at Andalucía, Talor Gooch is displaying the same kind of form that won him the league’s Individual Championship in 2023.
The Smash GC star shot a second-round 5-under 66 on Saturday to grab a commanding four-shot lead after 36 holes at the historic Real Club Valderrama. It’s the first time he’s led after 36 holes since his breakthrough season two years ago, when he won three times.
Dustin Johnson, captain of the 4Aces team that Gooch played for during the inaugural 2022 season, is his closest pursuer at 3 under. Stinger GC’s Branden Grace, battling relegation, is another stroke back in solo third. Legion XIII Captain Jon Rahm, 4Aces GC’s Patrick Reed — winner two weeks ago in Dallas — and Iron Heads GC’s Jinichiro Kozuma are tied for fourth at 1 under.
The 4Aces are seeking their first win since 2023, like Gooch, and top the team leaderboard at 2 over, one stroke ahead of Smash and five ahead of Legion XIII. Bryson DeChambeau’s Crushers GC, seeking their fourth consecutive victory, are in sixth place, nine strokes off the pace.
Saturday’s play included the completion of the first round, which had been suspended on Friday due to severe winds and the threat of dangerous conditions. After finishing his final five holes, Gooch emerged with a share of the 18-hole lead with Ripper GC Captain Cameron Smith and Torque GC Captain Joaquin Niemann at 2 under, and then was the only one who kept his position on a challenging but less blustery afternoon.
LIV Golf Andalucia: Round 1 Highlights | LIV on FOX
While Gooch has good vibes at Valderrama, he also understands the difficulties of protecting a lead on this challenging course. A year ago, Anirban Lahiri entered the final round with the same four-shot lead but ultimately lost in a playoff to Fireballs GC Captain and local favorite Sergio Garcia, who rallied from seven strokes down.
Amazingly, Garcia is in the same exact position this year — even par through 36 holes and seven strokes back.
“In general, on LIV, there’s really no lead that’s safe, especially at a golf course like this,” Gooch said. “Things can happen quickly, and you’re one shot away from a big number. There’s definitely no sense of [relaxation] Or peace.
“I know DJ (Dustin Johnson) is just behind me. … There are a lot of good players here to feel that I am just showing comfortably and winning it tomorrow. I got to play a very good phase of golf to fulfill this thing.”
Johnson won the individual championship in 2022, and Gooch chased a year later. Both have worked hard to regain their appearance in 2025 and improve their results.
Johnson shot a bogie-free 7-under 64, which is the lowest round through the first two days and their second lowest goal, relative to Par in this season.
“My game is really good [in] In the last and one and a half months, “Johnson said, who is trying to win a live golf tournament for the fourth consecutive year.” Just have not really seen the results that I think I should shoot.
“Today, it was really good to keep a solid round together.”
After a hard start for the season, Gooch has recently placed several solid rounds together, recently produced four -tournament stretch of top -15 finish. He is happy to see his increased practice routine paying dividends.
“I have found a lot of dirt in the range,” he said. “Just closed my tail. It is good to see all those hours and hours payment.”
But the job is not complete. When Gooch won in Valdarma in 2023, he had to overtake Decombo on the last day. Last year’s results showed that a rally was possible with seven shots. Valdarma is a difficult course, and the scores can move faster, making the door open for the chaser.
“I got a chance,” Johnson said.
“It’s notable,” Rahm said.
“Everything has to go to my way tomorrow,” Garcia said. “Not only do I really have to play well, but then leaders have to play badly. This is a big combination of things.”
Gooch is ready for the challenge – and ready to return to the top of the podium.
“Nothing is given tomorrow,” he said. “Just because I have played well today, it has no effect on the results tomorrow. Tomorrow is a fresh day, and we have a great day.”
Team score
This season, the new scoring format of Live Golf now includes all four scores in every round in the team competition. Here are the results and scores for each team after Round 1 and Round 2 of Live Golf Andalusi.
Round 2
1. 4ACES GC +2 (Johnson 64, Reid 71, Peter 72, Warner III 72; RD. 2 Score: -5)
2. Smash GC +3 (Gooch 66, Koipka 70, McDowell 71, Cocker 72; RD. 2: -5)
3. Legion XIII +7 (McKibin 69, Rahm 70, Hatan 72, Surat 76; RD. 2 Score: +3)
4. Fire balls GC +8 (Anger 69, Garcia 69, Puig 70, Ballster 75; RD. 2 Score: -1)
5. Hyflyers GC +10 (Steel 70, Tringel 71, Mixelson 72, Oglette 72; RD. 2 Score: +1)
6. Crushers GC +11 ,
7. Iron Heads GC +12 (Kozuma 68, Li 68, Jung 72, Na 73; RD. 2 Score: -3)
8. Clex GC +13 (Meronac 70, Caimmer 72, Bland 73, Cazetrup 74; rd. 2 score: +5)
9. Stinger gC +15 (Oosthuizen 69, Grace 70, Schwartzel 72, Berns 73; RD. 2 Score: E)
T10. Rangegats GC +17 (Campbell 69, Watson 71, Uyhalin 72, Mashevu 75; RD. 2 Score: +3)
T10. Magastics GC +17 (Horsafield 70, Sense 72, Westwood 72, Paulter 75; RD. 2 Score: +5)
T12. Torque GC +19 (Munoz 70, Perera 72, Orties 73, Neemon 75; RD. 2 Score: +6)
T12. Ripper GC +19 (Jones 70, Herbert 72, Smith 73, Lishman 79; RD. 2 Score: +10)
Wild Card: C. Lee 73, Kim 73
round 1
1. Crushers GC +3 (Decombo 70, Casey 72, Hell III 72, Lahiri 73)
2. Legion XIII +4 (Rahm 72, Surat 71, Heton 72, McKibin 74)
3. 4ACES GC +7 (Reid 70, Peters 73, Werner III 73, Johnson 75)
T4. Clicks GC +8 (Bland 71, Caimmer 73, Meronac 73, Cazetroop 75)
T4. Smash GC +8 (Gooch 69, Kokrak 71, Koipka 76, McDowel 76)
T6. Hyflyers GC +9 (Mikelson 72, Tringel 73, Oglette 74, Steel 74)
T6. Ripper GC +9 (Smith 69, Jones 74, Lishman 74, Herbert 76)
T6. Fireball GC +9 (Anser 73, Balter 73, Garcia 73, Puig 74)
9. Magastics GC +12 (Paulter 71, Horsafield 74, Westwood 74, Senson 77)
10. Torque GC +13 (Neemon 69, Munoz 74, Perera 75, Orties 79)
11. Rangegots GC +14 (Uyhalin 73, Campbell 74, Watson 74, Masweu 77)
T12. Iron Heads GC +15 (Kozuma 73, Na 73, Jung 76, Li 77)
T12. Stinger gC +15 (Grace 70, Schwartzel 74, Ostthuction 77, Bermster 78)
Wild Card: C. Lee 73, Kim 76
This piece is courtesy in partnership Live golf,
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