“I can’t wait to spray Bubba in the face with champagne”.
The comments from a smiling Talor Gooch should he and his Range Goat team-mates Bubba Watson and Harold Varner 111 win the team prize in the inaugural LIV Golf Adelaide in Australia.
The trio lead the team format by three strokes at 33-under while individually, Gooch ensured daylight is in a distant second place after opening-up a massive 10-shot leader, after back-to-back 62s, for a whopping 20-under 36-hole tally in continuing ideal scoring conditions on the host The Grange course in the South Australian capital.
Gooch, 31, and with his Aussie-born caddy calling the shots, continued to thrill another jam-packed ‘Down Under’ crowd with some high-class golf, and not dropping a shot over the 36-holes.
First time in his career @TalorGooch has gone back-to-back 62 #LIVGolf pic.twitter.com/7d5fPTBJC4
— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) April 22, 2023
In setting a new Australian men’s professional golf new record 36-hole low, Gooch is odds on to capture a second tour victory, some two-and-a-half years after securing a first and only PGA Tour title at the 2021 RSM Classic.
And in leading by 10, the Oklahoma-born Gooch has promised to stay aggressive all the way to a champagne victory spray with his Range Goats team-mates Watson and Varner 111.
“Being out in front is going to drive me even more to be aggressive and to go and put a good round up, not just try to coast to a win, if you will,” said Gooch
“We can’t just coast to a win as a team tomorrow, so we’ve got to go play some really good golf, and if we can get off to a really good start, then hopefully we can be on the back nine, coasting to a team win.
“Yeah, and we’ve talked about it all year. We want to get on that podium really bad. I can’t wait to spray Bubba straight in the face with champagne, so I’m hoping we can get it done tomorrow (smiling)”.
England’s Paul Casey earned the honour of the loudest roar of approval at ‘The Watering Hole’ and the par-3 12th hole where had a well-watered crown on their feet after his tee shot ran over the left side of the hole for a near ace.
And Patrick Reed’s caddy and brother-in-law Kessler Karain, who took over the bag-carrying duties from his sister and now Reed’s wife, again showed a clean pair of heels in winning a two-man caddy sprint from tee-to-green at the 12th.
