Former US Masters champion Charl Schwartzel completed a brave wire-to-wire victory in the inaugural LIV Golf Invitational London at Centurion Club.
The South African added a final day two-over-par 72 to his opening rounds of 65 and 66 to finish with a 54-hole total of seven under and win by one shot from compatriot Hennie Du Plessis, who closed with a 70.
Branden Grace from South Africa completed a clean sweep of the top-three places by the Springboks after closing with a 65 to take third place along with American Peter Uihlein, in with a 69, two behind the winner, on a day which once again saw an innovative 2.15pm shotgun start for the elite 48-man field.
Individual winner Charl Schwartzel, Branden Grace, Louis Oosthuizen and Hennie du Plessis of Stinger GC. Photo: Asian Tour
The South African players success meant their Stinger GC team, which also included Louis Oosthuizen, won the team competition by 14 shots from Crushers GC, which consisted of Uihlein, Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai, Travis Smyth from Australia and England’s Richard Bland. Three of each team’s scores counted towards the team total today, unlike the first two days when two scores went towards the team total.
In what was the richest golf tournament ever played, Schwartzel received the biggest winner’s cheque of all time, an incredible US$4 million and earned US$750,000 for his share of the team’s US$3 million cheque.
It is his first victory since his success in the Valspar Championship on the PGA Tour in 2016.
Schwartzel started the day with a three-shot lead and was in control until a double-bogey six on the 12th reduced his five-shot lead to three but he was able to hold on to a memorable victory.
“Honestly it’s a relief,” said Schwartzel, who won the Masters in 2011.
“It was tough finishing. I made a bad mistake on 12 which put me on the back foot. I needed to stay calm. I had this thing in my hands and made it a bit more difficult than it should have been, but I am proud of how I hung in there, it’s a great feeling.
“Hennie played some fantastic golf. At 25 years old he has a bright future. Played real good. I am proud of him, and I am proud of my team mates. This is a historical moment.”
The next LIV Golf Invitational Series event will take place in Portland, in the United States, at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club from June 30-July 2.
