LIV Golf announced today that Smash GC will officially be rebranded as OKGC, establishing Oklahoma as the team's home market. This is the first time a LIV Golf franchise has been directly linked to a US market. The newly branded team will make its competitive debut at the MAADEN LIV Golf Virginia, bringing its Oklahoma identity to the capital as part of the 2026 season. This move represents a significant step forward in LIV Golf's strategy to tie its teams to their home markets, thereby creating stronger identities and deeper relationships with fans, partners, and communities. As the league continues to grow globally, OKGC underscores the increasing importance of localized, national team identities within the LIV Golf franchise model.
OKGC will be led by Oklahoma-born Team Captain and 2023 LIV Golf Individual Champion, Talor Gooch, one of the most successful players in LIV Golf history and an alumnus of Oklahoma State University. His connection to the region forms an authentic foundation for the team's future identity. 'This is incredibly significant to me. Oklahoma is where I grew up and learned how to compete,' said Gooch, Team Captain of OKGC. 'To now represent this state through OKGC and carry that identity everywhere in the world truly makes me proud. We are building a team that people can identify with, one that reflects Oklahoma's pride, resilience, and mentality everywhere we go.'
The OKGC identity is deeply rooted in Oklahoma's spirit and symbolism. At the heart of the emblem sits a bison, an enduring American symbol of fighting spirit, resilience, and strength, reflecting the team's mentality to move forward with determination. The number 46 is inlaid as an homage to Oklahoma's status as the 46th state admitted to the United States, representing the belief in earning everything and claiming a stake through hard work. A star anchors the identity, referencing the American heartland and the legacy that continues to drive the club forward.
'This is an important step in the ongoing evolution of our team model and a milestone as we establish our first team aligned with a US market,' said Katie O’Reilly, EVP and Head of Team Business Operations at LIV Golf. 'We have always believed in the power of team identity, and we are now seeing our teams build stronger, more authentic connections worldwide. We have seen this dynamic develop in markets like Australia, Great Britain, South Africa, and Korea, and OKGC represents the next step in bringing this approach to the United States. Oklahoma provides us with an incredibly strong foundation, as it was already a market where we previou
