LIV Golf organisers are expecting a 'spicy' battle between former team-mates Dustin Johnson and Talor Gooch at their tournament in Tulsa, Oklahoma this weekend.
Gooch ditched Johnson's 4Aces Golf Club (GC) to join Bubba Watson's RangeGoats GC during the offseason, a move that left his former captain unimpressed. Gooch and Johnson have struck up a fierce rivalry since the transfer, with fireworks expected in Tulsa.
Gooch heads into the three-day event at Cedar Ridge Country Club as the leading individual, while 4Aces sit at the top of the team table. Johnson will want to stop Gooch from bagging another win after being paired with his former team-mate this weekend.
LIV Golf organisers have confirmed Gooch has been paired with two-time major winner Johnson and 2017 Masters champion Sergio Garcia for the event in Tulsa. The tour's official website has described the relationship between Gooch and Johnson as 'spicy'.
Johnson fanned the flames by telling Gooch he "should enjoy being on stage" after 4Aces won the team prize at last year's Miami event "because that was the last time he's going to do that". Gooch then joined RangeGoats to link up with his friend Harold Varner III.
Gooch has responded to Johnson's comments by making a brilliant start to this season's campaign. He's top of the LIV Golf standings after five events - 19 points clear of Peter Uihlein in second - thanks to back-to-back wins in Adelaide and Singapore.
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Gooch is now in pole position to snatch Johnson's crown. The 4Aces captain won the inaugural LIV Golf individual championship at a canter to pocket an eyewatering $35.6million, with Gooch sitting in fifth. Yet Johnson is way down in 25th spot this season.
Gooch's win in Adelaide was overshadowed by 4Aces winning the team event. That promoted Johnson to say: "I'm glad we snipped him... just to give it to him a little bit more."
Yet Johnson was left red faced when Gooch and RangeGoats were victorious in Singapore. That encouraged Gooch to ask: "Where's DJ [Johnson] right now?"
Despite growing in confidence, RangeGoats do not want to antagonise champions 4Aces. Varner, who is yet to win his maiden LIV Golf event, admitted after Singapore: "I don't hate the Aces. I hate that they're really good and we haven't beat them.
"And we did today and I'm super proud of the three men standing next to me. It shouldn't be that animosity, but it just happens in team sports. We beat them."
RangeGoats captain Watson upped the ante by adding: "And we will beat them again. They're going to come for us next time."
The other pairings for this weekend's event includes four-time major champion Brooks Koepka, two-time major winner Martin Kaymer and six-time major champion Phil Mickleson.
Two-time Masters winner Watson also has an interesting group, as he will be joined by reigning Open champion Cameron Smith and 2020 US Open winner Bryson DeChambeau.
