The LIV Golf movement just got louder!
Adelaide and Australia take a bow. The latest episode of LIV Golf will long be remembered as one of golf’s greatest shows! Talor Gooch won the individual competition. The Four Aces were victors in the Team’s event. But, at the end of the day, the lead role was played by the South Australian capital city. Adelaide has vaulted to the top of the podium as the best stage for presenting the breakaway tour’s performance.
LIV Golf Adelaide projected an energy never seen before in golf! The thrilling 54-hole program highlighted that golf is fun and that playing golf can be cool! The scenes around the superbly manicured The Grange Golf Club were electrifying. From the ‘Ace’ by Chase on Sunday at The Watering Hole that gifted thirsty onlookers with a rare hole-in-one, to the incredible shotmaking produced by the star-studded field, LIV Adelaide was a never-seen before golf fan experience. And, speaking of the fans, the sell-out daily crowds of 25,000+ exuded an energy level with a party atmosphere unrivalled!
Talor Gooch scored a three-shot victory for his maiden win on the breakaway tour. Gooch, who collected one PGA Tour title, bolted out of the gate with a 10-under 62 on Friday. The flawless round set a LIV Golf record for lowest round in relation to par. A day later, the 31-year-old American equalled his record with another score of 62 leaving him at 20-under and with a massive ten-shot lead going into the final round. Game over! Not yet…after all, one of the game’s greatest attractions lies in its unpredictability.
Gooch covered his opening six holes on Sunday with five pars and one birdie to get to 21-under for the event. His next four holes included three par 5s and a short par 4—it was the scoring-zone. It should have been the easy street, which would have allowed the Oklahoma resident to coast home to victory. But, that’s not how golf works…right? While the following pack picked up shots through this four-hole stretch, Gooch dropped four shots. After ten holes, he topped the leaderboard at 17-under. However, his seemingly unassailable ten-shot lead was reduced to two shots with Anirban Lahiri and Peter Uihlein reaching 15-under midway through their final rounds. Game on! Gooch's response was swift.
After his shocking double-bogey at the 10th hole, his rebound birdie at the 11th hole was next level in elite performance. Gooch poured in a curling putt from 15 feet to arrest the momentum back in his favour. He made another birdie two holes later. Now, he was back in control. Gooch closed out his final round with five consecutive pars for a final round 1-over 73 and a 19-under event total. Gooch won by three shots.
Lahiri produced a final round 7-under 65, which was only marred by his bogey at his final hole. The 35-year-old from India claimed solo second place at 16-under. The two-time Olympian has recorded two runner up finishes at LIV Golf.
Patrick Reed led a group of four players one shot further back at 15-under. The controversial American posted a 7-under 65 final round. He was joined on that mark by Australia’s Cameron Smith (66), and American duo Cameron Tringale (67) and Pat Perez (67).
Four Aces won the Teams event carding 47-under for a new LIV Golf Team’s record. The impressive line up includes Dustin Johnson (Team Captain), Pat Perez, Peter Uihlein and Patrick Reed.
The LIV Golf Tour moves to Asia for LIV Golf Singapore to be staged at Sentosa Golf Club from April 28 - 30.
1. Talor Gooch -19
2. Anirban Lahiri -16
3. Patrick Reed -15
4. Cameron Smith -15
5. Cameron Tringale -15
Pat Perez -15
Other Australians
21. Marc Leishman -11
42. Matt Jones -2
43. Jed Morgan -1
Photo credit: Mark Brake/Getty Images
