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
Reed follows up that eagle at 17 with a birdie at 18 and he is now just one shot off the lead.
LIV Golf Portland
Patrick Reed hits a stunning approach into the par-5 17th and rolls in the eagle putt. He’s missed from that length almost all day but that propels him to -8 and he’s now just two shots off the lead.
LIV Golf Portland
Johnson can’t hole out and slips back to -8 before Ortiz tidies up for his par. He’s not alone at the top of the leaderboard anymore though! Grace drains a long putt for birdie at the 13th and joins Ortiz at -10.
LIV Golf Portland
Johnson and Ortiz are both in trouble at the 13th. The former’s approach was sliced and stuck up in the rough, leaving a tricky downhill pitch with the ball above his feet. It’s a good effort to get up onto the top tier of the green but it’s going to be a long putt to try and save par from there.
Ortiz’s approach came up well short but his pitch is a lot simpler off the fairway and leaves only around 5ft for par.
LIV Golf Portland
It’s been a disappointing day for DeChambeau, who is two over for his round, but the American makes absolute mincemeat of the par-5 17th, fading in what only looked like a short iron and he will now have a great eagle chance.
LIV Golf Portland
Johnson moves to -9! After missing two birdie chances, he gets the putter working at the par-3 12th and the two-time major champion is now just one off the lead.
LIV Golf Portland
Johnson misreads his birdie putt, again giving it too much credit on the high side, and just like at 11, Grace got a perfect look from behind. This time though the South African’s own effort just runs out of speed and dies away from the hole at the end. Ortiz’s lead stays at one.
LIV Golf Portland
Grace steps up onto the 11th tee and flares his drive way right. He gets free relief though and is able to fade his approach around a tree and the ball just trickles onto the front of the green. It’s a great escape and he, Johnson and Ortiz will all have a similar length for birdie.
LIV Golf Portland
Oosthuizen has birdied three of his last four holes to move to -7, three shots back.
Back at 10, all three players in the final group have found the green. Ortiz and Johnson make their pars but Grace got a great read off the latter’s effort and rolls in for his birdie. The South African moves to -9 and is now just one shot off the lead.
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