It took eight months, but that finally happened on Sunday at LIV Golf Greenbrier.

Rahm took a two-stroke lead into the final round at the Old White Course in West Virginia, but Koepka came from the clouds with a scintillating, seven-under 63 to finish 54 holes at 19-under-par (191). Koepka’s 63 forced a sudden-death playoff against Rahm, which started at the par-3 18th hole. Two-time major winner Rahm, though, airmailed the green with his tee shot and made bogey from an awkward lie in the bunker while Koepka two-putted for the win.

It was Koepka’s fifth victory on LIV since joining in 2022. No other LIV golfer has more than three titles.

“I think this is probably my favorite one,” Koepka said. “It’s always good when you battle good players. Jon is a hell of a player. For whatever reason he’s always got the better of me a little bit as of late.”

But not this time. Not in West Virginia.

Koepka set up his second win on LIV this year after a victory in Singapore in May, when he made the turn at two under on Sunday at Greenbrier, a former PGA Tour host venue. The Florida native then made three straight birdies from the 11th and another at the par-5 17th. Meanwhile, playing partner Rahm made four back-nine birdies, including two of the final three holes, to post a 65. On the first extra hole, Rahm’s long par putt lipped out.

“It stings a little bit more than I would like it to,” Rahm said. “But there’s still obviously a lot of good things to think about.” Jason Kokrak, Koepka’s Smash GC teammate, was third at 18 under. Marc Leishman was the top Australian at 17-under in fourth, while Lucas Herbert was tied sixth at 15-under. Cam Smith was tied eighth at 14-under while Matt Jones was tied 20th at 10-under.

Koepka’s Smash GC franchise also took out the team title at Greenbrier with a 53-under total. That was with LIV reserve golfer John Catlin playing as the team’s fourth in place of Graeme McDowell, who was suspended for one event for violating LIV’s anti-doping procedures by using a Vicks nasal spray. Smash GC finished three shots ahead of Cameron Smith’s Ripper GC, while Rahm’s Legion XIII team was third.

As sweet as a victory tastes, Koepka shook his head when asked if it offered any consolation for his poor performances at the majors this year. A year after capturing his fifth major at the 2023 PGA Championship, the 34-year-old failed to register a top 25 in the four biggest events this year.

“No, not at all; the majors were pretty disappointing,” Koepka said. “I think I’ve only had two chances to win [on LIV this year] and I won them, but that’s not enough.”

Koepka’s inspiration to carry his form into 2025—given there is only one more individual event left for LIV’s 2024 season in Chicago next month—is former world No.1 and two-time major champion Rahm. Since joining LIV, Rahm has not finished outside the top 10 in his 11 starts (Rahm withdrew injured from LIV Houston as well as the US Open). Among those top 10s was Rahm’s first LIV win in the league’s UK event recently.

“The key is actually being a little bit more consistent,” Koepka said. “You look at Jon all year, he’s had, what, eight, nine events maybe where he’s top six or has a chance to win on the back nine. I think that’s what needs to happen for next year.”

While that would be great for Koepka personally, it would also be a boost to LIV to have its two best players go head-to-head in the final group more often. Or “more Sunday battles,” as the man himself put it.