LIV Golf Tour is in Broken Arrow this weekend and there are some of the top golfers in the world participating, along with some golfers with local ties, to cheer for at Cedar Ridge Country Club.
This is the sixth stop on the 14-event LIV Golf League 2023 schedule. It is a three-round tournament (Friday-Sunday). Cedar Ridge Country Club is located at 101st St. and Garnett Rd. The course measures 7,213 yards and is a Par 70.
The tournament will feature 12 teams of players and total of 48 players will be participating. The total purse is $20 million (individual), and $5 million (team). The top individual finisher will receive $4 million and his team will receive $3 million.
Top golfers to watch and the team they are on include, Phil Mickelson (Hyflyers GC), Bubba Watson (Rangegoats GC), Brooks Koepka (Smash GC), Bryson DeChambeau (Crushers GC), and Dustin Johnson (4Aces GC).
Players with ties to Oklahoma State include, Talor Gooch (Rangegoats GC), Charles Howell III (Crushers GC), Peter Uihlein (4Aces GC), Eugenio Chacarra (Fireballs GC), and Mathew Wolff (Smash GC). There is one player from OU, Abraham Ancer (Fireballs GC).
Currently, there are three former OSU Cowboys atop the standings through the first five LIV Tour events; Gooch (92), Uihlein (73), and Howell (69). Gooch is coming off back-to-back first place finishes in the previous two tournaments (Adelaide and Singapore), and is favored to win this week.
Gooch said he’s looking forward to playing in Oklahoma.
“I have such a love for Oklahoma, it’s my people I feel like,” Gooch said in a recorded interview. “I’m just excited for them to actually see it up close and in person. It’s going to be such an exciting week. I keep hearing about the support has been really good for ticket sales and just the local community. We love our sports in Oklahoma, and it’s going to be fun to see the turnout.”
No doubt the gallery following Gooch will be one of the largest on the course.
“Man, I’ve got so many family and friends that are going to be there all week,” Gooch said. “I can’t even begin to count. Yeah, the Gooch gang that week will be deep.”
Ancer is very excited about playing this week in Tulsa.
“Man, I’m pumped,” he said. “I feel like people from Oklahoma absolutely love sports, and they love to root on guys that obviously went to school in the state. Last time I was there playing at a big tournament was the PGA Championship in Tulsa, and it was incredible. I think the atmosphere is going to be phenomenal. I can’t wait to be out there, and there’s going to be a lot of “Boomer Sooner” going on and obviously a lot of Pokes out there, too, so it’s going to be entertaining.”
Ancer played well at Southern Hills last year and finished tied for 9th place at the PGA Championship. He was asked if that motivates him to play well this week.
“Absolutely, always super motivated,” Ancer said. “I don’t feel like I need any extra motivation anywhere I go to play, but it definitely helps to have a lot of people cheer you on and obviously want to do good in Oklahoma. Also, my boys just won the Big 12 Championship, so that’s a big win for the OU alumni and obviously the whole school.”
Single day tickets are $55 and can be purchased online. The Tournament will be broadcast on the CW Network.
TULSA BEACON RADIO
My guests this week on “Tulsa Beacon Weekend” will include Chad Robicheaux from the Mighty Oaks Foundation, and Julie Huston and Andrea Walker will talk about Mental Health Issues. The show airs on Saturday at 12:00 p.m. CST on 970am KCFO.