Cameron Smith Holds On For Win, 4Aces Storms Back For Team Win in London
St Albans, England – Standing on the 18th green with his hands behind his head and eyes closed, Cameron Smith tried to process the conflicting emotions that followed Sunday’s drama at London’s LIV Golf. He was happy to win the individual title, his second in 13 regular seasons since joining LIV. It’s the perfect way to build momentum to defend his British Open title in two weeks.
However, he was disappointed to miss a 6-foot putt that would have forced a playoff for the first time in LIV golf history. Instead, he bogeyed the final hole at Centurion Club, and the Australian Ripper GC dropped him to second place, one stroke behind the season’s points leader Aces GC, who won the team this season. Playing the final seven on Sunday, Smith and teammate Mark Leishman were the Reapers’ last hope of catching the fourth, gathering four hits to start the day at 3 under.
The Rippers entered the final hole, 5 18, at 33 under. Smith had a one-stroke lead over Patrick Reed of Aces. Smith was forced to putt after his tee shot hit hard, but Leishman’s second shot missed the green. As Smith made his third shot, a gust of wind blew his ball into a bunker. It exploded 6 feet. Leishman then completed a double birdie out, tying the team standings and tying Redd for second place. Then, something unexpected happened.
After a solid week of putting, especially on Sunday when he putts from more than 105 feet in his first 10 holes, Smith’s usual offering slipped over the hole. Their individual victory was sealed, but the Reapers missed out on the team’s first victory. The Aces clearly have a recipe for success in doubles. Sunday’s win was his sixth regular-season doubles title since last season and his second of the season after the win in Adelaide.
They also extended their lead in the Constructors’ Championship to 39 points compared to this year’s triple Torque GC. Reed had the lowest score of the day for the Aces, a 6-under 65 that moved him to 1 under. Other scores belonged to Pat Perez, who had a bogey-free 66, and captain Dustin Johnson, who had a 67 (except for Peter Ohlin‘s 68). The Aces got off to a slow start on Friday, shooting par 3s as a team and finishing at 31 under for the weekend.
Although they were not as dominant as last season, they are still the winning team in nine competitions. Sunday’s result is the definitive proof. One of the statements included the possibility of ending the tournament. Reid was seven under on his first 11th hole and was bogey-free. Perez was under par over the last seven holes.
Johnson closed out the round with an eagle and a birdie, and the aces continued to cut into the Reapers’ lead before finally overcoming them. It all comes down to the final hole, where you highlight LIV Golf’s best shot. Just six feet away from LIV Golf’s first team standings.
Here are the standings and results from Sunday’s final round of the team competition at LIV Golf London.
The first three points of each round will count towards the team score. The team with the lowest total score after three rounds wins the doubles championship.
1. ACES GC (-3 ): Patrick Reed 65, Pat Perez 66, Dustin Johnson 67 (Third Score: -15)
2. RIPPER GC (-33): Marc Leishman 66, Cameron Smith 68, Jediah Morgan 69 (Three points: -10)
3. Stinger GC (-29): Louis Oosthuizen 68, Branden Grace 69, Dean Burmester 69 (3rd punts: -7)
4. . RANGEGOATS GC (-26): Harold Varner III 67, Talor Gooch 68, Bubba Watson 71 (three punts: -7)
5. MAJESTICS GC (-2 ): Ian Poulter 66, Henrik Stenson 69, Laurie Kanter 70 (3pts: -8)
6. CLEEKS GC (-23): Richard Brand 66,Bernd Wiesberger 67, Graeme McDowell 69 (3pts: -11)
7. Crushers JC (-22): Anirban Lahiri 68, Bryson Dechambeau 68, Charles Howell III 71 (3pts:-6)
8.FIREBALLS GC {-21} Eugenio Chacarra 67, Carlos Ortiz 67, Abraham Aner 69 (Third score: -10)
9. Iron Heads GC (-18): Scott Vincent 66, Danny Lee 69, Kevin Na 69 (3rd road score: -9).
10. TORQUE GC (-17): Sebastian Muñoz 65, Joaquin Nyman 69, Mito Pereira 69 (3rd road score: -10)
11. SMASH GC (-17): Brooks Koepka 68, Jason Koklark 70, Chase Koepka 72 (Third Round Score: -3).
12. HYFLYERS GC (-16): Cameron Tringle 68, Phil Mickelson 71, Brendan Steele 71 (3rd Road Score: -3)
