Australia’s Cameron Smith faced a four-foot par saving putt at the final green at LIV Golf London. Holding a two-shot lead in the individual event, he had the luxury of getting down in two putts and still win. However, in an unusual circumstance, the 29-year-old needed to hole out the testy short putt for his Ripper GC to move into a playoff for the Team title. The putt missed! And, with the agonising bogey at the final hole, Ripper GC lost their opportunity to claim their maiden Team victory. Smith eventually tapped the return putt to seal the individual win. 4Aces GC collected their second victory this season in the team competition.
Smith produced a commanding performance to win LIV Golf London at Centurion Club. The impressive wire-to-wire victory is his second LIV title. Smith scored his maiden LIV Golf win at Chicago in September last year. The 2022 PLAYERS champion opened the 54-hole event with a superb bogey-free 8-under 63. He held a one-shot lead over Ripper GC teammate Marc Leishman. Smith carded a 4-under 67 on Saturday to take a three shot into the final round over Leishman, Thomas Peters and Louis Oosthuizen. The South African bolted into contention after firing an 8-under 63 in the second round.
Smith, who entered this week No. 3 on the individual LIV Golf player standings, began his final round with birdies at holes two and three. The Queenslander stumbled with a bogey at the par 3, 5th hole before steadying his round with birdies at the 8th and 10th holes. A clutch birdie from 12 feet at the par 3, 17th hole gave him the security of a two-shot lead into the final hole. Smith signed for a 3-under 68 final round and a 15-under total. Smith’s form looks on target for a promising title defence at The Open Championship in two weeks. The likeable Aussie heads to Royal Liverpool Golf Club with top 10s at the previous two major starts where he finished T9 at the PGA Championship and 4th at the US Open.
Fellow Australian Leishman birdied the final hole to share second place with America’s Patrick Reed on 14-under. Leishman was languishing in 37th position in the individual player standings after starting in all eight events before London with the best finish of 16th in Singapore. The Victorian carded a 5-under 66 final round. Reed, who has gained the reputation for producing stunning final rounds during his LIV Golf term, fired a 6-under 65 on Sunday. Oosthuizen claimed solo fourth pace after producing a 3-under 68 to get to 12-under.
4Aces GC led by Dustin Johnson overcame Smith’s Ripper GC by one shot in the team competition at 34-under. The team of Johnson, Reed, Pat Perez and Peter Uihlein strengthens their lead at the top of the Teams standings. The Australian made Ripper GC reached the podium for the first time this season. Smith’s team includes Leishman, Jed Morgan and Matt Jones.
LIV Golf moves to the USA for LIV Greenbrier to be staged at The Old White at The Greenbrier during August 04 - 06.
1. Cameron Smith -15
2. Patrick Reed -14
3. Marc Leishman -14
4. Louis Oosthuizen -12
5. Dustin Johnson -10
6. Richard Bland -9
7. Pat Perez -9
8. Cameron Tringale -9
9. Henrik Stenson -9
10. Thomas Pieters -9
Other Australians
33. Matt Jones -3
39. Jed Morgan E
Photo credit: Tom Dulat /Getty Images
