The LIV Golf team known as Smash GC, which was originally captained by Brooks Koepka, has changed its name to OKGC, a nod to current captain Talor Gooch’s Oklahoma roots. Gooch became the frontman of Smash when Koepka left LIV Golf in December.
The team unveiled its new name and branding Tuesday morning via social media, dubbing itself “Oklahoma’s First Pro Golf Team.” The centerpiece of the new logo is the silhouette of a bison with the number 46 overlayed onto it, which pays homage to the fact that Oklahoma was the 46th state to join the U.S.
Gooch was born and raised in Oklahoma and played college golf at Oklahoma State. He also owns a professional bull riding team called the Oklahoma Wildcatters. The other members of the team are Americans Harold Varner and Jason Kokrak, as well as Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell.
Talor Gooch of Smash GC on the 17th hole during day two of the LIV Golf Team Championship Michigan at The Cardinal at Saint John’s on August 23, 2025 in Plymouth, Michigan.
“This is incredibly meaningful to me. Oklahoma is where I grew up and where I learned how to compete,” Gooch said in a story on LIVGolf.com. “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.”
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The squad formerly known as Smash GC has struggled in the 2026 season. Its best result thus far is a second-place finish at LIV Golf Hong Kong, but it has placed sixth or worse in every other event. Last week in Mexico City, Gooch and Co. finished dead last. In the season-long standings, they sit in eighth out of 13 after six events.
The team’s rebrand comes at a time when questions are being raised about the future of LIV Golf after reports last week that the Saudi Public Investment Fund may be ending its financial commitment to the breakaway tour. The league is fully funded through the rest of the season, but LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil said they will “probably” have to raise money beyond that and “work like crazy” to keep it a viable business.
“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, EVP and Head of Team Business Operations 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 build in markets like Australia, the UK, South Africa and Korea, and OKGC represents the next step in bringing that approach 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.”
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: LIV Golf team Smash GC changes name to OKGC, with Oklahoma theme
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