LIV LONDON: SMITH WINS INDIVIDUAL TITLE; 4ACES RALLY FOR TEAM WIN – Golf News | Golf Magazine

Cameron Smith stood on the 18th inexperienced, put his fingers behind his head and closed his eyes, attempting to course of the conflicting vary of feelings following Sunday’s dramatic end at LIV Golf London.

He was elated to win the person title, his second victory in 13 common season begins since becoming a member of LIV. It was an ideal technique to construct momentum getting into his title protection in two weeks on the Open Championship.

But he was upset to have missed a 6-foot putt for par that might’ve pressured the primary group playoff in LIV Golf historical past. As an alternative, his bogey on the ultimate gap at Centurion Membership dropped his all-Australian Ripper GC into second, one shot behind 4Aces GC, this season’s factors leaders that gained their second group title of the season whereas having to sweat out Smith’s putt.

“Clearly thrilled in regards to the particular person win, however it could’ve been good to rise up there with the boys,” stated Smith, who shot a final-round 68 for a successful rating of 15 beneath. “It’s a little bit of combined feelings in the mean time.”

Smith and teammate Marc Leishman, taking part in within the ultimate group Sunday, have been the final hope for the Rippers to catch the 4Aces, who rallied from 4 strokes down to begin the day to take the lead at 34 beneath. The Rippers have been at 33 beneath going into the ultimate gap, the par-5 18th. Individually, Smith had a two-shot lead over the 4Aces’ Patrick Reed.

Smith was pressured to put up after his drive discovered the tough, however Leishman’s second shot was simply off the again of the inexperienced. As Smith performed his third shot, a gust of wind pushed his ball into the bunker. He blasted out to six toes. Leishman then accomplished his two-putt for birdie, leveling the group leaderboard whereas ending in a tie for second individually with Reed.

Then the sudden occurred. After an excellent week of placing – particularly on Sunday as he holed greater than 105 toes of putts in his first 10 holes – Smith’s par try slid previous the opening. His particular person win was sealed however the alternative for the Rippers’ first group victory was misplaced.

“I actually wished Cam to make the one on the final there,” Leishman stated. “He performed nice and putted nice all week. To win the event and nonetheless stroll off the inexperienced upset, I suppose that’s what that is all about, the group format.”

The 4Aces definitely appear to have the method for fulfillment within the group competitors. Sunday’s win was their sixth regular-season group title going again to final season, and their second this season, having gained in Adelaide. It additionally will increase their lead within the group level standings to 39 factors over Torque GC, the three-time event winners this yr.

Reed offered the Aces with their lowest rating of the day, a 6-under 65 that moved him to 14 beneath. The opposite two contributing scores belonged to Pat Perez, who shot a bogey-free 66, and captain Dustin Johnson with a 67 (with Peter Uihlein’s 68 not counting).

The 4Aces had began slowly on Friday, taking pictures simply 3 beneath as a group, earlier than taking pictures 31 beneath on the weekend. Whereas they haven’t been as dominant as final season, they continue to be the group to beat by way of 9 occasions. Sunday’s final result was the most recent proof.

“We have been seeing loads of these groups getting too near us on the prime of that board,” Reed stated. “I felt like as a group, we simply weren’t actually getting the numbers we wished to. This week meant loads for us to exit and make a press release.”

A type of statements entails the flexibility to complete off tournaments. Reed was a bogey-free 7 beneath on his first 11 holes. Perez was 4 beneath on his final 7 holes. Johnson equipped an eagle and a birdie within the again finish of his spherical because the Aces stored reducing into the Rippers’ lead – and ultimately overtaking them.

“That was the most important factor,” Reed stated. “We stored stress on them.”

It got here all the way down to the final gap, with LIV Golf’s finest putter within the highlight. Six toes away from forcing LIV Golf’s first group playoff.

“Cam hasn’t missed a type of in his life, so I’m fairly shocked,” Perez stated. “Nonetheless, it could’ve been cool. That might’ve been a separator once more in golf, to have a group playoff. I feel it could’ve been superior.”

It didn’t work this time for Smith and his Rippers, however their second-place end – the group’s finest consequence – is one thing to construct on.

“We confirmed that we’re a contender of the group stuff,” Smith stated. “That’s the place we wish to be each week.”

TEAM COUNTING SCORES

Listed here are the standings and counting scores for Sunday’s ultimate spherical of the group competitors at LIV Golf London. The three finest scores from every group depend in each spherical for his or her complete group rating. The group with the bottom cumulative rating after three rounds wins the group title.

1. 4ACES GC (-34): Patrick Reed 65, Pat Perez 66, Dustin Johnson 67 (Rd. 3 rating: -15)

2. RIPPER GC (-33): Marc Leishman 66, Cameron Smith 68, Jediah Morgan 69 (Rd. 3 rating: -10)

3. STINGER GC (-29): Louis Oosthuizen 68, Branden Grace 69, Dean Burmester 69 (Rd. 3 rating: -7)

4. RANGEGOATS GC (-26): Harold Varner III 67, Talor Gooch 68, Bubba Watson 71 (Rd. 3 rating: -7)

5. MAJESTICKS GC (-24): Ian Poulter 66, Henrik Stenson 69, Laurie Canter 70 (Rd. 3 rating: -8)

6. CLEEKS GC (-23): Richard Bland 66, Bernd Wiesberger 67, Graeme McDowell 69 (Rd. 3 rating: -11)

7. CRUSHERS GC (-22): Anirban Lahiri 68, Bryson DeChambeau 68, Charles Howell III 71 (Rd. 3 rating: -6)

8. FIREBALLS GC (-21): Eugenio Chacarra 67, Carlos Ortiz 67, Abraham Aner 69 (Rd. 3 rating: -10)

9. IRON HEADS GC (-18): Scott Vincent 66, Danny Lee 69, Kevin Na 69 (Rd. 3 rating: -9)

10. TORQUE GC (-17): Sebastian Munoz 65, Joaquin Niemann 69, Mito Pereira 69 (Rd. 3 rating: -10)

11. SMASH GC (-17): Brooks Koepka 68, Jason Kokrak 70, Chase Koepka 72 (Rd. 3 rating: -3)

12. HYFLYERS GC (-16): Cameron Tringale 68, Phil Mickelson 71, Brendan Steele 71 (Rd. 3 rating: -3)