LIV Golf makes historic rebrand amid Saudi | Golf News
Talor Gooch heads new United States based crew (Image: Getty Images)
LIV Golf has unveiled a major rebrand, reworking Smash GC into OKGC — marking the first time a crew has been linked to a particular U.S. state. The transfer carries a personal connection to crew captain Talor Gooch, who stepped into the function following Brooks Koepka’s high-profile departure to the PGA Tour.
The launch comes at a turbulent time for the Saudi-backed circuit, with rumors swirling that the PIF will pull funding at the end of the 2026 season. LIV Golf also entered the current season without both Koepka and Patrick Reed. Despite the uncertainty, the league has now planted its first American roots, with Koepka’s former squad set to sport the new branding.
Smash GC will formally grow to be OKGC, with Oklahoma designated as the crew’s home market. The squad will make their debut under the new id at Maaden LIV Golf Virginia, carrying their Oklahoma banner to the nation’s capital as half of the 2026 season. It comes after the PGA Tour CEO drops LIV Golf trace amid Bryson DeChambeau rumors
“This is incredibly meaningful to me. Oklahoma is where I grew up and where I learned how to compete,” said Gooch, Team Captain of OKGC.
“To now represent this state through OKGC and bring that identity with us around the world is something I’m really proud of. We’re building a team that people can connect with, one that reflects the pride, resilience, and mindset of Oklahoma everywhere we go.”
LIV Golf rebranded Smash and planted seed in America (Image: undefined)
The rebrand arrives as hypothesis mounts around the circuit’s future, with the PGA Tour also making important scheduling changes to their 2027 season — doubtlessly leaving some LIV golfers looking out for a new home once the season wraps up.
“This is an important step in the continued evolution of our team model, and a milestone moment as we establish our first team aligned with a U.S. market,” said Katie O’Reilly, the EVP at LIV Golf.
“We’ve always believed in the power of team identity, and we’re now seeing our teams develop stronger, more authentic connections across the globe.
“We’ve seen that momentum construct in markets like Australia, the UK, South Africa and Korea, and OKGC represents the next step in bringing that strategy to the United States.
“Oklahoma gives us an incredibly strong foundation having been a market we’ve had success in before (LIV Golf Tulsa 2023), and with Talor Gooch leading the team, there is an authentic connection to the market.”
LIV Golf is at the moment working to distance itself from stories indicating that the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia intends to withdraw its financial backing from the league at the close of the 2026 season.
Further stories emerged this week that Bryson DeChambeau, widely thought of the figurehead of the breakaway league, held discussions with numerous officers during Masters week to explore his choices concerning a potential departure.
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