Koepka grabs bumper LIV payday, promises brother sports car

US golfer Brooks Koepka celebrates on the podium following his play-off win over Peter Uihlein (left) in the LIV Golf Invitational-Jeddah at the Royal Greens Golf Club. Four-time major-winner Brooks Koepka secured the biggest payday of his career with a $ 4 million play-off win over close friend Peter Uihlein on the Saudi-funded LIV Golf breakaway tour – AFP

KING CITY, AFP: Four-time major-winner Brooks Koepka secured the biggest payday of his career with a $ 4 million play-off win over close friend Peter Uihlein on the Saudi-funded LIV Golf breakaway tour on Sunday.

Koepka’s birdie on the Jeddah Invitational’s third play-off hole cost Uihlein an eye-watering $ 5.875 million as it denied him the winner’s prize plus $ 8 million for second place in the season standings.

Uihlein can console himself with $ 4 million for third place this season, plus $ 2.125 million for second place on Sunday and $ 750,000 for winning the team event alongside Koepka.

Koepka can also add $ 750,000 to his winnings for the team victory. The 2017-2018 US Open and 2018-2019 PGA Championship winner was emotional afterwards, revealing he had feared for his career while battling injury. “The last two years haven’t been fun – it’s been a long road,” said Koepka, 32.

“I didn’t know if my career was over for half-a-second. I wasn’t sure if I was going to play so it’s nice to be able to come back and be able to win.” The $ 25 million tournament in King Abdullah Economic City, north of Jeddah, was the first LIV stop in Saudi Arabia and the last individual event of a debut season that has split the golf world.

Koepka, who wrecked his knee in 2021 and has also had hip problems, said he would honour his pledge to buy his brother and team-mate, Chase, a lime-green sports car for winning the team title.

“I told my brother I’d buy him a Lambo (Lamborghini) if we won the team thing, so now, I’ve got to go buy one,” he said.

Koepka’s winnings far outstrip his prizes for any of his major titles. He took home $ 2.16 million from the US Open in 2017 and 2018, and $ 1.98 million from each of his PGA Championship victories.