LIV Golf Chicago: How much the South African foursome banked
Spain’s Jon Rahm fired four birdies – including a 12-footer at the 17th – to win LIV Golf Chicago on Sunday and clinch the Saudi-backed circuit’s individual season title worth $18 million.
The two-time major winner from Spain, who made the jump to the breakaway league last December, captured his second victory in the past three events, sandwiched around a runner-up finish to Brooks Koepka in a playoff at LIV Golf Greenbrier in August.
Only rival
Rahm, who hasn’t finished outside the top 10 in 11 events, arrived at Bolingbrook Golf Course near Chicago this week with Joaquin Niemann – a two-time winner this season – his only rival for the season title.
After a six-under-par second round on Saturday, Rahm took a one-shot lead over compatriot Sergio Garcia into the final round, with Niemann three adrift and needing to finish in front of Rahm to bag the individual champion’s bonus.
Rahm had birdies at the third, sixth and 10th holes, and after letting a couple of birdie chances go begging, he sealed it with his birdie at 17, carding a four-under final round for a 54-hole total of 11-under par.
“I woke up really nervous today,” Rahm said.
“I wanted to do a really good show and get it over the line. Just really happy I played as good as I did.
“To go bogey-free on the weekend, one bogey all tournament, it’s quite spectacular,” he said.
“I’m very proud of the putt on 17, which made 18 a lot, a lot, easier.”
In addition to his $18 million champion’s bonus he bagged $4 million for the tournament win.
He finished three shots better than Niemann, whose four-under final gave him an eight-under total that left him tied for second with Garcia.
The LIV season concludes next week with the team championship in Dallas.
After that, Rahm has his sights set on playing a trio of DP World Tour events to maintain his Ryder Cup eligibility.
He said on Wednesday he was unwilling to pay the fines levied by the DP World Tour on golfers who fail to obtain releases to play in LIV events that conflict with tour tournaments.
Rahm has reportedly appealed the fines, and as that process plays out would be eligible to tee up at the Spanish Open later this month.
He also wants to play the Andalucia Masters and the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
South African quartet struggled
Meanwhile, it was a forgettable tournament for the all-South African Stinger GC team at LIV Golf Chicago.
Louis Oosthuizen was the top finisher in a tie for 30th on 1-over par which was good enough for a $162 500 (R2.87 million) payday.
Branden Grace finished a shot further adrift in a tie for 34th and banked $144 000 (R2.54 million).
Dean Burmester and Charl Schwartzel tied for 42nd in the 54-player field on 4-over par and each earned $126 200 (R2.23 million).
In the team competition, Stinger GC finished 13th – and last.
Individual prize money
PositionPlayerScoreEarnings1Jon Rahm-11$4,000,000T2Joaquín Niemann-8$1,875,000T2Sergio Garcia-8$1,875,0004Tyrrell Hatton-7$1,000,0005Ian Poulter-6$800,000T6Henrik Stenson-5$534,500T6Anirban Lahiri-5$534,500T6Bryson DeChambeau-5$534,500T6Lucas Herbert-5$534,500T6Brooks Koepka-5$534,500T11Abraham Ancer-4$370,000T11Thomas Pieters-4$370,000T13Harold Varner III-3$330,000T13Paul Casey-3$330,000T15Talor Gooch-2$273,000T15Jinichiro Kozuma-2$273,000T15Peter Uihlein-2$273,000T15Richard Bland-2$273,000T15Kalle Samooja-2$273,000T20Sebastián Muñoz-1$230,000T20David Puig-1$230,000T20Carlos Ortiz-1$230,000T23Kieran VincentE$190,715T23Graeme McDowellE$190,715T23Phil MickelsonE$190,715T23Matt JonesE$190,715T23Kevin NaE$190,715T23Scott VincentE$190,715T23Adrian MeronkE$190,715T30Brendan Steele1$162,500T30Louis Oosthuizen1$162,500T30Patrick Reed1$162,500T30Danny Lee1$162,500T34Cameron Tringale2$144,000T34Marc Leishman2$144,000T34Branden Grace2$144,000T34Martin Kaymer2$144,000T34Sam Horsfield2$144,000T34Dustin Johnson2$144,000T40Andy Ogletree3$134,000T40Eugenio Chacarra3$134,000T42Bubba Watson4$126,200T42Anthony Kim4$126,200T42Charles Howell III4$126,200T42Dean Burmester4$126,200T42Charl Schwartzel4$126,200T47Matthew Wolff5$90,750T47Pat Perez5$90,750T47Lee Westwood5$90,750T47Mito Pereira5$90,75051Jason Kokrak6$60,00052Cameron Smith10$50,00053Hudson Swafford13$50,00054Caleb Surratt18$50,000
Team prize money
PositionTeamScoreEarnings1Crushers GC-14$3,000,0002Legion XIII-13$1,500,0003Fireballs GC-12$500,000
