Tag: 2024 LIV Golf Jeddah

Abraham Ancer wins three-way playoff at 2024 LIV Golf Hong Kong; Bryson DeChambeau’s Crushers claim another team title

Anthony Kim shot one of the low scores of the day on Sunday for his first round under par with LIV.

Abraham Ancer loves a playoff.

His lone win on the PGA Tour went to extra holes and the same can be said of his first LIV Golf victory. Ancer defeated Cameron Smith and Paul Casey with a birdie on the first playoff hole to win 2024 LIV Golf Hong Kong on Sunday.

After rounds of 7-under 63 and 8-under 62 on Friday and Saturday at Hong Kong Golf Club’s Fanling Course in Sheung Shui, Ancer struggled on Sunday to a 2-over 72, which opened the door for Casey (64) and Smith (66) to tie him atop the leaderboard at 13 under. Joaquin Niemann shot the low-round of the day, a 7-under 63 to finish T-4 alongside Carlos Ortiz (66), one shot outside of the playoff.

“Man, I made that so hard on myself. The ball-striking wasn’t there, but mentally I was really strong, so I felt really good. I felt like I was not going to give up. That round could have gone south really quickly,” Ancer explained. “Hit some good bunker shots, some good putts that I needed to and just kept myself in it and hit the right shot at the right time there in the playoff.”

MORE: Best shots from LIV Golf Hong Kong

On the team side, Bryson DeChambeau’s Crushers GC won for the second consecutive week after another strong Sunday to finish at 35 under, two shots clear of Niemann’s Torque GC. Smith and his Ripper GC earned their first top-three finish of the season at 32 under.

“I love these guys. They fight for every shot, and I can tell you when four scores are counting, we’re a pretty deadly team,” said DeChambeau. Before this season LIV switched its format to make all four player scores count to the team score in the final round. The worst score is dropped in the first two rounds.

“We know with four scores counting, we’re going to be in it no matter what the last day,” he added. “We put the pedal to the metal today and showcased who we are.”

Last year’s team champions, the Crushers have finished 2-4-1-1 in LIV’s four events so far this season. After winning the season opener, Jon Rahm’s new squad, Legion XIII, finsihed T-5 and fifth the last two events before coming in dead last this week in Hong Kong.

Anthony Kim has struggled in his return to pro golf with LIV, but after shooting over par in his first five rounds, the 38-year-old finally found the red numbers with a 5-under 65 on Sunday. Kim made seven birdies and two bogeys and finished 50th in his second event.

LIV is off for the rest of the month and returns to Trump National Doral, April 5-7, for 2024 LIV Golf Miami.

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Breaking down Anthony Kim’s last-place LIV Golf Jeddah debut by the numbers

“I’m more encouraged after playing this tournament and playing like ass, really. But I’m very encouraged.”

Unless you had zero expectations for Anthony Kim’s return to professional golf, your expectations were too high.

After three wins on the PGA Tour and two appearances for Team USA in the Ryder Cup and President Cup (5-2-1 overall), Kim was tabbed as golf’s next young talent in the late 2000s. Surgery to his Achilles in 2012 – and an insurance policy rumored in the $10 million range – kept Kim away from the professional game for the last 12 years before the 38-year-old joined the LIV Golf League for the 2024 season as a wild card player.

The universally loved fan-favorite started the week with a puzzling “Hi haters” hype video that fell as flat as his performance, both of which shocked fans given how high-energy Kim used to be. It’s far too early to make sweeping judgments, but if the first three rounds in Saudi Arabia are any indication of what’s to come, the former rising star may have burned out.

By any standard, no matter how low the bar was, Kim struggled in his debut at LIV Golf Jeddah with a dead-last finish at 16 over, more than 10 shots behind the penultimate player on the leaderboard at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club.

“Obviously it was a rough week. I’m excited to be playing professional golf again. I feel very blessed that I have this opportunity,” Kim said of his debut. “I’ve got a lot to work on, but I had a lot of good things go my way this week. So I’m looking forward to building on that and being in contention at some point this year.

“I’m definitely hitting the ball well. I’m doing a lot of things well. I know the scores don’t reflect that. It’s disappointing to score that way. But at the same time, I know I have a lot to build on, and I’m just going to keep doing what I’m doing.”

Here’s a look at AK’s return to professional golf by the numbers.

2024 LIV Golf Jeddah prize money payouts for each player and team

It pays to play well on the Saudi-backed league.

It pays to play well in the LIV Golf League, just ask Joaquin Niemann.

The 25-year-old Torque GC captain won for the second time on the Saudi-backed circuit this season on Sunday after a 4-under 66 in the final round at Royal Greens Golf Country Club to claim the league’s third event of the 2024 season, LIV Golf Jeddah.

For his efforts, Niemann will take home the top prize of $4 million. Stinger GC teammates Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel finished T-2 at 13 under and each earned $1,875,000. Bryson DeChambeau will bank $1 million for his fourth-place finish at 12 under.

Check out how much money each player and team earned at 2024 LIV Golf Jeddah.

MORE: Best shots from LIV Golf Jeddah

Individual prize money

Position Player Score Earnings
1  Joaquin Niemann -17 $4,000,000
T2  Louis Oosthuizen -13 $1,875,000
T2  Charl Schwartzel -13 $1,875,000
4  Bryson DeChambeau -12 $1,000,000
5  Jon Rahm -11 $800,000
T6  Charles Howell III -10 $508,750
T6  Anirban Lahiri -10 $508,750
T6  Phil Mickelson -10 $508,750
T6  Talor Gooch -10 $508,750
T6  Adrian Meronk -10 $508,750
T6  Jason Kokrak -10 $508,750
T12  Brooks Koepka -9 $350,000
T12  Abraham Ancer -9 $350,000
14  Matt Jones -8 $320,000
T15  Carlos Ortiz -7 $262,143
T15  Sergio Garcia -7 $262,143
T15  David Puig -7 $262,143
T15  Dean Burmester -7 $262,143
T15  Tyrrell Hatton -7 $262,143
T15  Branden Grace -7 $262,143
T15  Kevin Na -7 $262,143
T22  Pat Perez -6 $203,000
T22 Sebastian Munoz -6 $203,000
T22  Cameron Tringale -6 $203,000
T22  Brendan Steele -6 $203,000
T22  Lucas Herbert -6 $203,000
T27  Danny Lee -5 $182,500
T27  Dustin Johnson -5 $182,500
T29  Sam Horsfield -4 $172,500
T29  Paul Casey -4 $172,500
T31  Graeme McDowell -3 $153,750
T31  Mito Pereira -3 $153,750
T31  Henrik Stenson -3 $153,750
T31  Richard Bland -3 $153,750
T31  Jinichiro Kozuma -3 $153,750
T31  Kieran Vincent -3 $153,750
T37  Peter Uihlein -2 $138,750
T37  Thomas Pieters -2 $138,750
T37  Harold Varner III -2 $138,750
T37  Patrick Reed -2 $138,750
T41  Andy Ogletree -1 $129,375
T41  Cameron Smith -1 $129,375
T41  Marc Leishman -1 $129,375
T41  Scott Vincent -1 $129,375
45  Martin Kaymer E $125,000
T46  Bubba Watson 1 $123,750
T46  Kalle Samooja 1 $123,750
T48  Caleb Surratt 2 $90,000
T48  Eugenio Chacarra 2 $90,000
50  Lee Westwood 3 $60,000
51  Ian Poulter 4 $60,000
52  Hudson Swafford 5 $50,000
53  Anthony Kim 16 $50,000
–  Matthew Wolff WD $16,500
– Wade Ormsby Reserve $16,500

Team prize money

Position Team Score Earnings
1 Crushers GC -38 $3 million
2 Stinger GC -34 $1.5 million
3 Smash GC -33 $500,000

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Masters-bound Joaquin Niemann continues impressive run of form with 2024 LIV Golf Jeddah win

Bryson DeChambeau’s Crushers GC claimed their second team title of the new season.

Joaquin Niemann is shaping up to have a big year in 2024.

The 25-year-old Chilean won the Australian Open back in December and carried that momentum into the new year with another win at LIV Golf’s season-opener in Mayakoba, where he began the week with a 59 and ended it with a playoff against Sergio Garcia.

Niemann didn’t need extra holes this week and stayed hot in Saudi Arabia with his second win of the year at LIV Golf Jeddah on Sunday. The Torque GC captain shot a final-round 4-under 66 to finish at 17 under at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club in King Abdullah Economic City, four shots clear of Stinger GC teammates Louis Oosthuizen (67) and Charl Schwartzel (68) at 13 under. Bryson DeChambeau had the low round of the day, a bogey-free 8-under 62 to finish fourth at 12 under. Jon Rahm signed for a 2-under 68 on Sunday to round out the top five at 11 under.

Anthony Kim made his highly-anticipated return to professional golf and finished dead last in 53rd (Matthew Wolff withdrew in the second round). The 38-year-old shot rounds of 76-76-74 to finish 16 over, 11 shots behind 52nd-place Hudson Swafford and 33 behind the winner Niemann.

MORE: Best shots from LIV Golf Jeddah

“Yeah, it feels amazing. It’s a super special moment. It’s always nice when you win. I’m just more happy, I’m more proud the way I’m playing right now, and the way I played out there today,” said Niemann. “It was a tough day. It was windy. I knew there was going to be some low scores, so I’m super happy. I’m proud the way I’m playing. I just want to — on to the next one.”

DeChambeau’s Crushers GC blitzed the field in the final round to claim the team title at 38 under, four shots clear of runner-up Stinger GC and five clear of third-place Smash GC, captained by Brooks Koepka.

The league is back in action next week with LIV Golf Hong Kong, March 8-10, at Hong Kong Golf Club in Sheung Shui.

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Anthony Kim cards second straight 76, Joaquin Niemann leads 2024 LIV Golf Jeddah

No one said it was going to be easy.

No one said it was going to be easy.

For the second straight day, Anthony Kim shot 6-over 76 at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club in his return to professional golf. The 38-year-old was 5 over after his first four holes (starting on No. 15) before making a birdie at No. 1, his lone circle of the day. Then Kim doubled the third hole before making par on his next 11 to wrap up his second round.

Coming back after more than a decade away was going to have its challenges, but if it’s any consolation, finishing the day with 11 consecutive pars has to be seen as a positive considering how the day started. Nevertheless, Kim is at the bottom of the leaderboard and trailing the next closest competitor, Ian Poulter, by nine shots.

He won’t finish at the bottom of the leaderboard, however, as Matthew Wolff withdrew three holes into the second round because of sickness.

On the flip side of the leaderboard, Joaquin Niemann, who won the LIV Golf opener at Mayakoba last month, continues his stellar play. He shot 6-under 64 on Saturday and takes a two-shot lead over Charl Schwartzel into the final round.

Jason Kokrak, who shot 8 under on Saturday, and Louis Oosthuizen are tied for third at 10 under while a group including first-round leaders Jon Rahm and Adrian Meronk are tied for fifth at 9 under.

Social media has mixed reviews on Anthony Kim’s 76 at LIV Golf Jeddah in professional return

The reviews are mixed.

The Band-Aid has been ripped off.

Anthony Kim made his return to the professional golf world Friday, firing a 6-over 76 in the first round of LIV Golf Jeddah at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club in Saudi Arabia. Kim carded only one birdie during the first round and had seven bogeys, and he sits dead last in the 54-man field.

But, is that even a bad score? Kim hasn’t played a competitive round, let alone been seen in the public eye, in nearly 12 years. There was always going to be some competitive rust (see his shank on the fifth hole) and first-tee jitters he had to get over before we saw what he really had left in the tank.

Photos: Anthony Kim at LIV Golf Jeddah

However, as social media often does, there was no shortage of reactions to his debut Friday morning. Here’s what folks had to say about Kim’s return, and there were mixed reviews:

Photos: Check out the best shots from 2024 LIV Golf Jeddah

Here are some of the best photos from 2024 LIV Golf Jeddah.

LIV Golf Jeddah was perhaps one of the most anticipated events in the league’s history.

Anthony Kim made his return to professional golf Friday at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club after more than a decade away from the sport. However, the return went about as expected, and he sits dead last in the field after the opening 18 holes.

Meanwhile, Joaquin Niemann continues his play as one of the hottest players in golf. He shot 6-under 64 on Saturday and has a two-shot lead over Charl Schwartzel with 18 holes to go in Saudi Arabia.

Here are some of the best photos from 2024 LIV Golf Jeddah:

Anthony Kim sits dead last at LIV Golf Jeddah after his return to professional golf

Professional golf is hard.

Professional golf is hard. Especially after taking 12 years off. Just ask Anthony Kim.

The 38-year-old returned to the golfing world this week at LIV Golf Jeddah, and it went about how you would expect it would after not playing in a competitive round for more than a decade.

Kim shot 6-over 76, dead last in the 54-player field at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club. He had seven bogeys, one birdie on the par-4 sixth and plenty of competitive rust to shake off.

Look no further than when he shanked his approach shot on the par-5 fifth hole. Later in the broadcast, Greg Norman said a drone flying overhead caused the mishit.

LIV Golf: Anthony Kim photos | Social media reaction

Kim’s round was the worst of the day by two shots (Bubba Watson shot 4-over 74). He was one of only eight players to shoot over par on the opening day of LIV Golf Jeddah.

“It was a feeling I hadn’t felt before,” Kim said of his first-tee jitters. “I was very excited to go get it done. Fairway looked very narrow, so to be able to hit the fairway was nice. Got off to a good start, and then made an unforced error with my second shot. Just too many unforced errors.

“But really played better than the score, and I know I can clean that up pretty quickly.”

Meanwhile, Adrian Meronk and Jon Rahm are tied on top of the leaderboard after opening 8-under 62s on Friday.

What should you take from Kim’s first round back? Not much. It would’ve been great to see flashes of the player he used to be, but that was more than a decade ago, and he has some rust to shake off.

Whether he can ever get back to that level, it remains to be seen.

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Here’s what golf clubs Anthony Kim is using in his return at LIV Golf Jeddah 2024

AK is riding with Titleist this week.

There have been dozens of questions surrounding Anthony Kim’s return to professional golf after 12 years.

How is he going to play? Is he going to have any sponsors? What clubs will be in his bag?

Slowly but surely, we’re starting to find out answers. Thursday afternoon, ahead of his debut Friday at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club for LIV Golf Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, we got an answer to the last question.

LIV Golf posted on social media what Kim was rocking in his bag, and he’s using Titleist clubs in his return from top to bottom.

From a TSR3 driver to a 2021 ProV1 ball, here’s what Kim will play with this week.

Photos: Anthony Kim makes his return to professional golf at 2024 LIV Golf Jeddah

Kim will tee off alongside Cameron Smith and Graeme McDowell on the 18th hole at 3:15 a.m. ET Friday.

Photos: Anthony Kim makes his return to professional golf at 2024 LIV Golf Jeddah

The fan-favorite is back.

Earlier this week, LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman announced Anthony Kim would be making his return to professional golf at 2024 LIV Golf Jeddah in Saudi Arabia at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club.

Kim’s last PGA Tour start was 12 years ago at the Wells Fargo Championship, an event he withdrew from after an opening round 74. His last win came at the Houston Open in 2010.

The former United States Ryder Cupper will not play for one of LIV’s teams and will compete as an individual for the rest of the season.

Check out some of the best photos of Kim’s return to golf at LIV Golf Jeddah, the league’s third event of the year.

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