The LIV Golf semifinals in Dallas are set to bring some serious excitement, especially after Friday’s quarterfinal drama.
Iron Heads GC and HyFlyers GC, the two lowest-seeded teams, pulled off the most unexpected of upsets, reminding us that anything can happen in golf—especially in match play.
Iron Heads’ Incredible Rally:
The Iron Heads GC, seeded 13th, made headlines by toppling 4th-seeded Smash GC.
Danny Lee secured the singles win against Talor Gooch, but it was Scott Vincent’s dramatic hole-in-one that lit the spark for the team.
Paired with Jinichiro Kozuma in the foursomes, the duo clawed back to force a playoff, winning it with a clutch par putt on the extra hole.
HyFlyers GC Defy the Odds:
On the other side, the 12th-seeded HyFlyers GC, led by captain Phil Mickelson, delivered a similarly impressive performance against 5th-seeded Torque GC.
Mickelson and longtime buddy Brendan Steele found themselves 3-down in their foursomes match but battled back for a thrilling 2&1 victory over Mito Pereira and Carlos Ortiz.
Cameron Tringale also contributed with a singles win over Sebastián Muñoz, completing their shocking upset.
Dominant Performances:
Fireballs GC and Stinger GC both made quick work of their quarterfinal opponents with 3-0 sweeps over Majesticks and Cleeks, respectively.
Meanwhile, the 4Aces, the 2022 team champions, survived a tougher test against RangeGoats GC, edging them out 2-1.
Saturday’s Semifinal Showdowns:
Now, it’s on to Saturday’s semifinals, where four teams will advance to Sunday’s stroke-play finale.
Crushers GC, Legion XIII, Ripper GC, and Stinger GC await their respective matchups:
- Crushers GC vs. Iron Heads GC
- Scott Vincent, fresh off his hole-in-one, faces Paul Casey in singles.
- Danny Lee squares off against Bryson DeChambeau.
- In foursomes, Iron Heads’ Kevin Na and Kozuma take on Anirban Lahiri and Charles Howell III.
- Legion XIII vs. HyFlyers GC
- Captain Jon Rahm, expected to play despite illness, will battle Cameron Tringale.
- Tyrrell Hatton meets Andy Ogletree in the other singles match.
- Foursomes feature Caleb Surratt and Kieran Vincent up against Mickelson and Steele.
- Ripper GC vs. Fireballs GC
- Marc Leishman faces Eugenio Chacarra.
- Lucas Herbert battles David Puig.
- Cameron Smith and Matt Jones take on the fearsome duo of Sergio Garcia and Abraham Ancer in foursomes.
- Stinger GC vs. 4Aces GC
- Dean Burmester will go head-to-head with Dustin Johnson.
- Branden Grace, who came through in clutch fashion on Friday, faces Patrick Reed.
- Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel will take on Harold Varner III and Pat Perez in the foursomes.
The 4Aces: Still the Team to Beat:
Despite the quarterfinal upsets, the 4Aces remain a formidable force. Dustin Johnson’s team was the last to be selected for both rounds, yet they continue to prove their dominance.
Though Johnson lost his singles match to former teammate Peter Uihlein, Patrick Reed’s 5&4 win over Thomas Pieters and the foursomes victory by Varner and Perez sent RangeGoats packing.
“I have a lot of confidence in my team,” Johnson said after the quarterfinal win. “We’re all playing really well. I didn’t get it done today, but I’m excited for tomorrow’s challenge.”
Jon Rahm’s Expected Return:
Legion XIII’s Jon Rahm, the season-long Individual Champion, was absent from Friday’s captains’ press conference due to illness.
However, teammate Tyrrell Hatton assured everyone that Rahm is ready for Saturday’s semifinal matchup against the Iron Heads.
Despite his absence, Rahm stayed in touch with his team, weighing in on lineup decisions via phone and WhatsApp messages. Fans are eager to see if Rahm’s return will fuel his team to victory.
Scott Vincent’s Ace: The Shot of the Day:
The buzz around Scott Vincent’s second career hole-in-one only adds to the anticipation for Saturday.
Vincent credited his caddie Jacob Flech for calling the ace before the shot. “He told me we needed to go straight at the pin like we were going to make a hole-in-one, and it happened!”
Vincent said. The Iron Heads will be hoping for more magic as they continue their underdog run.
Saturday’s Must-Watch Matchups:
The semifinal matchups promise intense competition, with major storylines centring on key players like Jon Rahm, Dustin Johnson, and Phil Mickelson.
Whether it’s a battle between two champions or an underdog looking to continue their Cinderella story, these matches have something for everyone.
The road to the LIV Golf Team Championship continues with all eyes on Dallas. Stay tuned for more surprises!
