LIV Golf's Smash GC has a captaincy overhaul few saw coming. While Brooks Koepka didn't have a great 2025 season, few expected his December 23 announcement to step away from golf. Now, another member who joined in 2024 has replaced Koepka.

However, Gooch is already giving his former captain his due. Ahead of the 2026 LIV Golf season, Talor Gooch addressed Koepka in his statement three days ago.

“I want to start by thanking Brooks. He is one of the greatest competitors in the game, and I have learned so much from him while being his teammate on Smash GC," said Gooch.

Smash GC recorded three team wins during Brooks Koepka’s captaincy. The first win came at the 2022 LIV Golf Invitational Jeddah in October.

The Brooks Koepka team won again at LIV Golf Las Vegas in 2024, where Smash GC took the team title and Dustin Johnson won the individual event. Talor Gooch was part of that team.

Their third win came at LIV Golf Greenbrier in 2024, where Smash GC won both the individual and team titles.

So it's no surprise that Talor Gooch holds Koepka in high regard. “He’s a friend and teammate, and I have great respect for his decision. I wish him, Jena, and their family all the best," said Gooch.

Menwhile, applying lessons from Koepka, Gooch is already planning his captaincy.

Brooks Koepka’s Ex-Teammate is Excited for LIV 2026

In his statement, Talor Gooch also said, “Looking ahead, I am incredibly honored and excited to officially take on the captaincy role for the 2026 season.”

“I’m excited and ready to embrace this new leadership and career challenge. I’m eager to build on the competitive standard Brooks established and work with our players to lead this team into this next successful chapter," Gooch told the press.

Talor Gooch joined LIV Golf in the summer of 2022 as part of Dustin Johnson’s 4Aces GC. He recorded top-10 finishes in each of his first four events that season. 

In 2023, after moving to RangeGoats GC, he won three LIV Golf events and finished the year as the LIV Golf Individual Champion.

Do you think Talor Gooch will be able to take forward Brooks Koepka's legacy? Comment down below!

Written by

Aditi Singh

Edited by

Sagnik Bagchi