'They're Like The Yankees' - Peter Uihlein Delighted with Replacing Talor Gooch In 4 Aces Team

Dustin Johnson says that Talor Gooch wanted to move to the Range GOATs but warned him he won't win as much with his new team

Dustin Johnson and Peter Uihlein of the 4 Aces in LIV Golf
(Image credit: LIV Golf)

Peter Uihlein compared his new 4 Aces LIV Golf team to the New York Yankees after replacing Talor Gooch in the line-up – with captain Dustin Johnson claiming they got the better end of the deal in the swap.

The 4 Aces were dominant in the inaugural LIV Golf season, and are fancied to be the team to beat once again with Uihlein joining Johnson, Patrick Reed and Pat Perez for the new 12-team, 14-event LIV Golf League this year.

Ahead of the season opener in Mexico, Johnson feels his team is even stronger after swapping Gooch for Uihlein, and believes they’ll be top contenders again.

“I think the team is as strong as it was last year, if not stronger,” said Johnson. “I feel like we've got the better end of the deal here with Pete. I think he's a really nice player. I like having him on the team.

“I think obviously we've got a pretty good squad up here, and we're looking to contend every single week.”

Uihlein likened the 4 Aces to the famous Yankees due to them claiming the overall team title last season, and had no hesitation in joining.

“Obviously they won everything last year,” said Uihlein. “I've kind of said this before, but when they had an opening, they're like the Yankees, and if they come calling, you answer the phone.

“I'm pretty fortunate to be in this position, and obviously I'm thrilled to be here and be a part of this squad and be with these guys. Yeah, looking forward to a good year.”

After originally drafting Shaun Norris, Oliver Bekker and Kevin Yuan for the very first LIV Golf event, Johnson quickly revamped his side into the all-powerful 4 Aces that won last year.

The 4 Aces team in Liv Golf

(Image credit: LIV Golf)

Johnson revealed, though, that Gooch wanted to switch to Bubba Watson’s new Range GOATs outfit to play alongside Harold Varner III, and although a friendly move he warned his now former team-mate that he won’t have the same success with his new franchise.

“I just remember after the first event, I had to pick my team, which I did not like the choices I had to pick from, so after that week, Pat was one of my first calls,” said Johnson.

“Then Perez, then Gooch. I'm like, all right, I've got a good team because I did not like how it went the first week. Yeah, so that's kind of how the team got started was just after the first event last year. Talor, no, he wanted to go play with Harold, and so I said, good luck.

“He (Gooch) had his option to do whatever he wanted, and I wouldn't want to keep a player that didn't want to be on the team. But it wasn't necessarily like that.

“Me and Talor, we're fine and we're friends, but I did tell him, though, he should enjoy being on stage in Miami because that was the last time he's going to do that.”

Paul Higham
Contributor

Paul Higham is a sports journalist with over 20 years of experience in covering most major sporting events for both Sky Sports and BBC Sport. He is currently freelance and covers the golf majors on the BBC Sport website.  Highlights over the years include covering that epic Monday finish in the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor and watching Rory McIlroy produce one of the most dominant Major wins at the 2011 US Open at Congressional. He also writes betting previews and still feels strangely proud of backing Danny Willett when he won the Masters in 2016 - Willett also praised his putting stroke during a media event before the Open at Hoylake. Favourite interviews he's conducted have been with McIlroy, Paul McGinley, Thomas Bjorn, Rickie Fowler and the enigma that is Victor Dubuisson. A big fan of watching any golf from any tour, sadly he spends more time writing about golf than playing these days with two young children, and as a big fair weather golfer claims playing in shorts is worth at least five shots. Being from Liverpool he loves the likes of Hoylake, Birkdale and the stretch of tracks along England's Golf Coast, but would say his favourite courses played are Kingsbarns and Portrush.