The 2024 LIV Golf Team Championships in Dallas served up a thrilling finish, where Ripper GC snatched the title after an intense final round that kept fansโand playersโon the edge of their seats.
In a day full of high drama and big-time shots, the Australians clinched the LIV Golf Team Championship with a combination of grit, skill, and a bit of Aussie swagger.
Cameron Smith and his band of merrymen proved that clutch performances are what separates the champions from the also-rans. โTo be a part of this is unreal, especially with these guys,โ Smith said after the dust had settled and the champagne was flowing.
And flow it didโan Australian party set to carry on well into the week, as Smith and company celebrated with their caddies, staff, and perhaps anyone else who happened to wander by.
Final Round Fireworks
The Maridoe Golf Club saw four teamsโRipper GC, 4Aces GC, Iron Heads GC, and Legion XIIIโlocked in a tight battle.
The leaderboard looked more like a stock market ticker, with names flying up and down as each team traded birdies and bogeys.
By the back nine, things were tense, with all four teams within two shots of each other. At one point, it was anyoneโs game.
“Watching the leaderboard today was pretty stressful,” admitted Smith. “I almost wanted to take my eye off it, but I couldnโt. I was so intrigued with what we had to do.”
And what they had to do, they did. Led by Smithโs 4-under 68 and backed up by Lucas Herbertโs 69, and matching 70s from Matt Jones and Marc Leishman, the Rippers finished three shots clear of the 4Aces and Iron Heads, who tied for second at 8-under.
It wasnโt all smooth sailing. The team posted two double bogeys, but their 21 birdies were enough to overcome the occasional slip-up.
โAt no point today did I feel like we were under the pump or had to do anything,โ Smith reflected.
โI think there was a genuine feeling within the team that these guys are going to do the best.โ
The Underdog and the Defending Champs
The Iron Heads, who came into the tournament as the 13th and final seed, were a Cinderella story waiting to happen.
Kevin Na and his squad had the tournamentโs hearts beating a little faster, with Na and Jinichiro Kozuma both shooting 3-under 69s.
Danny Lee added a solid 70, and even Scott Vincent, whoโs heading to relegation next season, contributed an even-par 72.
“Overall, Iโm pretty pleased,โ Na said. โWe tied for second. Big week for the boys. Obviously, we want to win. But besides winning, this is second-best.”
Dustin Johnsonโs 4Aces, the 2022 champions, were looking to reclaim their glory. Johnson and Patrick Reed both posted 69s, while Pat Perez and Harold Varner III chipped in with 71s.
โIt was fun,โ Johnson said. โThat’s what you want. It was really close all day. All four teams had a chance coming down the stretch. There’s not really any more you can ask for.โ
Legion XIII Without Rahm: Fighting Spirit
Legion XIII faced a major challenge with their captain, Jon Rahm, sitting out due to illness. That left Tyrrell Hatton carrying the torch, and carry it he did, shooting a 4-under 68, which matched Smithโs score.
“It was always going to be hard with Jon not playing, especially when all four scores count,โ Hatton said.
Reserve player John Catlin stepped in admirably, posting a 70, while 20-year-old Caleb Surratt wrapped up his first season as a pro with a 71. Kieran Vincent, another relegated player, had a couple of late birdies for a 73.
Despite the setback, Hatton wasnโt about to let Rahmโs absence be an excuse.
โThat being said, itโs still disappointing to finish last out of the four today,โ he added, showing the fight that kept his team in the mix until the end.
Clutch Moments Seal the Deal
The Rippers, however, had one thing no one else could matchโtiming. Herbert, the newcomer, shook off an early double bogey at the par-5 seventh and then birdied four of his last five holes, finishing with a fist-pumping birdie at the par-4 first.
โYesterday I made a stack of birdies, so I knew that I had the ability to do that and if I just stuck to my guns, then that would come,โ Herbert said. “I just kind of needed to get out of my own way a little bit.”
Matt Jones had his own roller-coaster day, making a double bogey at the 18th, only to bounce back with birdies on the next two holes. โWasn’t too happy after the double, considering I’d saw us just tie the lead,โ Jones said. โโฆ I knew we were still fighting. I knew the boys would still be fighting.โ
Smith, the steady hand throughout, managed to weave his way out of tricky spots with his short game, while Leishman once again provided the steady presence his team needed.
When the final putt dropped, the Rippers had collectively played their last six holes in 8 under, sealing their victory.
Asked later why his team came through in the clutch, Smithโs answer was simple and to the point: “Weโre Aussies.”
TEAM SCORES
Team scores and final Team Championship positions after Sundayโs stroke-play round in which all scores counted for every team. Tier 1 played for the Team Championship and positions 1st through 4th; Tier 2 played for positions 5th through 8th; and Tier 3 played for positions 9th through 13th.
TIER 1 โ CHAMPIONSHIP
1. RIPPER GC -11 (Smith 68, Herbert 69, Jones 70, Leishman 70)
T2. 4ACES GC -8 (Johnson 69, Reed 69, Perez 71, Varner III 71)
T2. IRON HEADS GC -8 (Kozuma 69, Na 69, Lee 70, Vincent 72)
4. LEGION XIII -6 (Hatton 68, Catlin 70, Surratt 71, Vincent 73)
TIER 2
5. STINGER GC -15 (Grace 65, Schwartzel 66, Oosthuizen 68, Burmester 74)
6. FIREBALLS GC -14 (Garcia 66, Ancer 68, Chacarra 69, Puig 71)
T7. CRUSHERS GC -2 (Casey 69, Lahiri 70, DeChambeau 73, Howell III 73)
T7. HYFLYERS GC -2 (Steele 68, Ogletree 70, Tringale 72, Mickelson 76)
TIER 3
9. MAJESTICKS GC -5 (Horsfield 69, Poulter 71, Westwood 71, Stenson 72)
10. TORQUE GC -4 (Muรฑoz 64, Ortiz 71, Niemann 74, Pereira 75)
11. CLEEKS GC -1 (Kaymer 70, Bland 70, Samooja 71, Meronk 76)
12. RANGEGOATS GC +4 (Uihlein 69, Watson 73, Pieters 73, Wolff 77)
13. SMASH GC +12 (McDowell 71, Gooch 71, Kokrak 78, Koepka 80)
