Cameron Smith’s Ripper GC wins 2024 LIV Golf Team Championship, claim $14 million top prize

The team from Down Under that came out on top.

Every team was in the hunt with only a couple holes left to play, but it was the team from Down Under that came out on top at Maridoe Golf Club outside of Dallas.

Cameron Smith’s Ripper GC claimed the 2024 LIV Golf Team Championship on Sunday, shooting 11 under in stroke play to win the $14 million prize. They finished three shots in front of Dustin Johnson’s 4Aces GC and Iron Heads GC at 8 under while Legion XIII was fourth at 6 under.

The low round for Ripper GC was the captain, who bogeyed his opening hole then added five birdies to sign for a 4-under 68. Lucas Herbert, who had a triple bogey in his round, was next at 3 under while Marc Leishman and Matt Jones each shot 2-under 70.

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“Mate, it’s so good,” Smith said. “I mean, not only great golfers but they’re better people. I think that’s what being a Ripper is all about. Just so happens that we’re good golfers, too. It’s a good combo. But to have those three guys out there today, or six other guys really to lean on trying to get the job done, there was something in me that was telling me that we were going to be all right.”

Added Leishman: “Firstly, it’s unbelievable to win a team event. It’s not very often in golf you get to celebrate with other people who are equally as happy, and there’s about 15 of us here. Yeah, I mean, I feel like this win, Australia has been behind us so much. I think it’s a massive win for us individually, as a team. I’m so excited.”

Jon Rahm didn’t play this week for Legion XIII, withdrawing before Saturday’s semifinals because of flu-like symptoms. Iron Heads GC knocked off fourth-seeded Smash GC in the quarterfinals before taking out the top overall seed and defending team champions, Bryson DeChambeau’s Crushers GC, in the semifinals.

Iron Heads GC will take home $8 million while 4Aces GC will collect $6 million. In the Team Championship, the teams keep 60 percent and each player takes home 10 percent.

Jon Rahm withdraws from 2024 LIV Golf Team Championship

John Catlin has replaced Rahm in the event.

The third LIV Golf season comes to an end this week at the Team Championship outside of Dallas, Texas. Jon Rahm, the captain of Legion XIII, has withdrawn from the event and his LIV season is over a few days early.

Rahm, who won twice on the Saudi-backed league this year (United Kingdom and Chicago), withdrew from the Team Championship due to severe flu symptoms.

John Catlin has replaced Rahm in the event.

The match-play portion of the Team Championship concludes Saturday before one round of stroke play gets underway Sunday. $14 million is on the line for the winning team at Maridoe Golf Club.

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Photos: 2024 LIV Golf Team Championship at Maridoe Golf Club

The final event of the LIV Golf League’s season is here.

The final event of the LIV Golf League’s season is here.

The second full season of competition, or third overall with the first year being a series of invitationals, comes to a close this week at Maridoe Golf Club outside of Dallas in the 2024 LIV Golf Team Championship.

All 13 teams will compete for the top prize, though only four will have a chance to win the title come Sunday, when the event switches from match play to stroke play.

Bryson DeChambeau’s Crushers GC, the defending LIV Golf team champions, are the top seed and have a quarterfinal bye on Friday. Also earning byes are Jon Rahm’s Legion XIII and Cameron Smith’s Ripper GC.

The event gets underway Friday. Here’s a look at the best photos from the 2024 LIV Golf Team Championship.

Phil Mickelson didn’t have a lot to say when asked about outside player interest in LIV Golf

Is another big offseason brewing, or is it a smokescreen from Lefty?

Phil Mickelson isn’t afraid to speak his mind. But on Thursday at the pre-tournament press conference ahead of the 2024 LIV Golf Team Championship at Maridoe Golf Club in Dallas, a pair of one-word answers from Lefty painted an incomplete picture.

LIV Golf’s third season will come to a close Sunday, and then the league will enter the offseason before going international to begin its 2025 campaign. As for what’s next for the league? Other than the early-season schedule release, not many details have been released.

Perhaps it’s because the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which finances LIV Golf, are still working on a deal to bring the top players from both tours back together. Or it could be because the initial momentum LIV Golf had after its first two years has slowed.

Not according to Mickelson.

The last two offseasons, LIV Golf has signed former major champions, the biggest being Jon Rahm last December, who went on to win the league’s individual championship last week at LIV Golf Chicago. On Thursday, Mickelson was asked whether he has heard from players outside of LIV Golf who remain interested in the league.

“Yes.”

A follow-up question was asked: “Do you want to expand on that any?”

“No.”

Two questions, a pair of one-word answers and the result is left trying to figure out what it all means.

Perhaps Mickelson is speaking to players about possibly joining the league. But unlike in year’s past, there’s hardly any chatter going on about folks who could move defect from the PGA Tour to LIV Golf. Or maybe LIV is in a holding pattern, waiting to see what’s next for professional golf, like the rest of us.

Based on other questions and answers Thursday from Mickelson and other LIV Golf captains, the league is moving forward like business as usual. There were even some hints at more team-only events in the future, similar to this week in Dallas.

But as always, Lefty’s choice to not talk about conversations he has had will leave people guessing. Is it a smokescreen, or is LIV Golf preparing for another major offseason splash?

Only time will tell.

LIV Golf announces Maridoe Golf Club in Dallas will host 2024 Team Championship

The 2024 LIV Golf Team Championship will be LIV’s second event in Texas.

At the halfway point of its 2024 schedule, LIV Golf has announced where the 2024 LIV Golf Team Championship will be.

Maridoe Golf Club in Carrolton, Texas, about 20 minutes outside of Dallas, will host the 2024 LIV Golf Team Championship, set for Sept. 20-22. Last year, the event was in Miami at Trump National Doral. Now, the league in its third season is heading to Texas for its finale.

Maridoe is T-10 in Golfweek’s Best ranking of private courses in Texas. The course can tip out at more than 7,800 yards.

“Our LIV Golf players are looking forward to playing in the Dallas-Fort Worth area with its great golf tradition,” LIV CEO Greg Norman said in a release. “Texas is legendary for producing and hosting great golfers who set a high bar while competing for championships. Our LIV Golf Team Championship at Maridoe Golf Club will be a great experience for our players and all the fans in attendance.”

The LIV Golf Team Championship is comprised of three days of stroke and match play. Last year, Bryson DeChambeau’s Crushers GC won the team title at Doral.

Last month, LIV Golf announced Bolingbrook Golf Club in Bolingbrook, Illinois, will host the 2024 Individual Championship the week prior, ending the league’s two-year relationship with Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Illinois.

“Members of Maridoe Golf Club are pleased to host the LIV Golf Team Championship in September,” Maridoe Golf Club Founder Albert Huddleston said. “Maridoe has been honored to previously host the Southern Amateur, Trans-Mississippi Amateur, East West Cup Matches, USGA Women’s Four-Ball Championship as well as two 2020 COVID tournaments won by Scottie Scheffler and Brandon Wu. Maridoe is designed to be an enjoyable but demanding member’s club while always ready to provide a great test for elite golfers to entertain golf enthusiasts.”

The 2024 LIV Golf Team Championship will be LIV’s second event in Texas this year, following LIV Golf Houston in June, the next event on the schedule. It’s set a week before the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina.