LIV Golf LIVE: Leaderboard and Day 3 scores as Branden Grace holds off Dustin Johnson to win in Portland
Relive all the action from the final day of the controversial Saudi-backed invitational event
Branden Grace produced a spectacular final round to win the LIV Golf Portland event and claim the £3.2m first prize. The South African had started two shots back of Carlos Ortiz but a round of 65 saw him storm to victory three shots clear of the Mexican. Former world No 1 Dustin Johnson had been in contention despite a slow start but couldn’t keep pace with Grace on the back-nine, while Patrick Reed’s charge came too late to threaten the top of the leaderboard.
Grace had won twice on the PGA Tour and nine times on the European Tour before defecting to LIV Golf ahead of the inaugural event at Centurion Club last month. He is part of the Stinger GC team that won just outside London as Charl Schwartzel claimed victory. Despite Grace’s performance, it was the 4 Aces team featuring Johnson, Reed, Pat Perez and Talor Gooch that took the prize this time around.
While the action unfolded, LIV Golf also announced their latest new signing in Ryder Cup regular Paul Casey. “LIV Golf continues to attract the best players in the sport as it builds increasingly competitive fields with each event,” LIV Golf’s chief executive, Greg Norman, said. “Paul Casey adds to the growing list of top 50 golfers who are excited to be part of an innovative and entertaining format that is creating something new for golf. His proven track record on a global stage adds another exciting piece to the competition as we prepare for Bedminster.”
LIV Golf Portland
Thanks very much for joining our coverage of the final round of the LIV Golf Portland event where Branden Grace won the individual event and 4 Aces GC (Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed, Pat Perez, Talor Gooch) took the team prize.
LIV Golf Portland
And Grace tidies up for his par. What a stunning final round from the South African. He started two shots off the lead but finishes two clear thanks to a near-flawless round of 65.
LIV Golf Portland
There is still some drama to come on the final green in the team format though. Ortiz might have been unable to catch Grace but a birdie on the last ensures his Fireballs GC have edged Torque GC to third place.
LIV Golf Portland
Grace doesn’t shy away from taking his driver at 18 but he’s driven the ball so well it’s hardly a surprise. A safe approach finds the heart of the green and the South African’s victory is a formality now.
LIV Golf Portland
And Grace is running away with it now. That’s a brilliant up and down from the rough for birdie at 17 and he’s seven-under-par for his round! Grace leads by three and the £3.2m grand prize is within his grasp.
LIV Golf Portland
Grace misses the fairway at the par-5 17th and his lay-up is pulled into the rough left of the green. It’s a tricky pitch from there but he still has an outside chance of getting up and down for birdie. Johnson lashed a fierce drive down the middle but his approach finds the front bunker from 211 yards.
LIV Golf Portland
Johnson does manage to roll in his birdie putt at 16 and that takes the former world No 1 to -9, three shots back with two holes to play.
LIV Golf Portland
Branden Grace was the only one in the final group to miss the green at 16 but the South African chips in for birdie! Ortiz, who’d been eyeing up a two-shot swing, is suddenly left with a must-make birdie putt and drags it low of the hole. Grace leads by two with two holes to play.
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