There was a dramatic conclusion to the LIV Golf Team Championship, with Jon Rahm’s Legion XIII side edging out Bryson DeChambeau and the Crushers after two playoff holes.
Jon Rahm was hoping to follow winning the individual crown by lifting the team title in Michigan. The Spaniard missed the Team Championship in his debut season after suffering with illness.
Standing between Legion XIII and glory was the Crushers and Stinger. However, the South African team largely struggled to keep pace with their two opponents across the final day at The Cardinal at Saint John’s.
Ultimately, both Legion and Crushers finished the day on 20 under par. That led to a playoff, with Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton, Bryson DeChambeau and Paul Casey representing their respective teams.
Jon Rahm reacts to Bryson DeChambeau’s performance at the LIV Golf Team Championship
DeChambeau and Hatton birdied the first hole. But when Crushers failed to make a three on the second extra hole, the stage was set for Rahm and Hatton to seal the title.
It had been DeChambeau who produced the round of the day. He made eight birdies on his way to posting a 62. And speaking after sealing victory, Rahm was full of praise for the two-time US Open champion.
“He played incredible golf. He played unbelievable. His driver was on an absolute rope, and he had the putter going. I just tried to stay together with it as much as I could. I tried to remind myself that every three holes there was 12 scoring opportunities for each group or each team,” he said.
“Just kept reminding myself that even two, three holes was enough and just glad that I was able to match him with birdies at the end.”
What Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau were the only players to do on Sunday at the LIV Golf Team Championship
It was certainly a successful day for LIV Golf. While a lot of eyes would have been on the Tour Championship on the PGA Tour, LIV delivered its own exciting finish.
They probably would have dreamt of having Rahm and DeChambeau involved in a playoff at the start of the week. So the fact that it came to fruition is remarkable when you consider that all four scores counted on Sunday.
In fact, Rahm and DeChambeau were the only two players in the final who did not make a single bogey.
Rahm and Hatton both birdied their final two holes to close the gap. And it was fitting that Rahm was finally celebrating a victory after clinching both titles for the season.
The battle between Rahm and DeChambeau meanwhile, may have whetted the appetite for what may be to come at the Ryder Cup next month.
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