LIV GOLF TOUR
Bedminster
Cameron Smith Produces a Ripper Week At LIV Bedminster
Cameron Smith enjoyed his most successful week in his 15 starts on the LIV Golf Tour. The 29-year-old from Brisbane collected his third individual LIV Golf Tour title after winning LIV Bedminster. And, to add to that feat, the former world No. 2 captained his four-man Ripper GC team to victory in the Team competition. It was the maiden win for Ripper GC. Smith earns a combined US$4.75 million for both wins and moves to No. 1 on the individual player rankings for the season.
Smith, who won LIV London two starts ago, took a four-shot lead into the final round. Bogeys at the 1st and 3rd holes gave the following pack of Dean Burmester and Phil Mickelson a sniff. However, the gifted Australian pulled away from the field with four birdies in a five-hole stretch between the 6th and 10th. Smith wrapped up his superb wire-to-wire victory going bogey-free over his final 15 holes for a 3-under 68 on Sunday to reach 12-under.
Anirban Lahiri claimed outright second place at 5-under. The 36-year-old from India made a stunning recovery after opening the event with a 3-over 74. Lahiri posted a 7-under 64 on round two and carded a 1-under 70 final round for his runner up performance.
Abraham Ancer (69), Patrick Reed (71) and Dean Burmester (72) finished one shot further back at 4-under.
Marc Leishman was set for a podium finish until a double bogey at his final hole dropped him back to 2-under for the event and in 8th place.
Phil Mickelson started the final round in a share of second place at 5-under. The 53-year-old played in the final group for the first time in his 18 starts at regular-season LIV Golf events. Lefty suffered a devastating collapse at the par three, 7th hole when he signed for an eight. Mickelson carded a final round 4-over 75 to finish at 1-under and in 10th place.
Ripper GC won their first team victory ever. The line up of Smith (Captain), Marc Leishman, Matt Jones and Jed Morgan got to 20-under to overcome Crushers GC and Stingers by a whopping 11 shots.
The LIV Golf Tour moves to Illinois for LIV Golf Chicago to be staged at Rich Harvest Farms from September 22 - 24.
Final Scores
Bedminster
Individual
1. Cameron Smith -12
2. Anirban Lahiri -5
3. Abraham Ancer -4
4. Patrick Reed -4
5. Dean Burmester -4
6. Branden Grace -3
7. Joaquin Niemnann -2
8. Marc Leishman -2
Other Australians
27. Jed Morgan +3
30. Matt Jones +4
Team
1. Ripper GC -20
2. Crushers GC -9
3. Stingers GC -9
Photo credit: Mike Stobe/ Getty Images
