Tag: LIV Golf Team Championship

2023 LIV Golf Team Championship prize money payouts for each team in Miami

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

DORAL, Fla. — It pays to play well in the LIV Golf League, just ask Crushers GC.

Bryson DeChambeau’s team finished at 11 under to win the 2023 LIV Golf Team Championship and claim the top prize of $14 million Sunday at Trump National Doral’s Blue Monster. Bubba Watson’s RangeGoats GC finished runner-up, with Joaquin Niemann’s Torque GC in third and last year’s champions, 4Aces GC led by Dustin Johnson, in fourth.

All four scores counted in Sunday’s final round, which is different from LIV’s regular-season events where the lowest score is dropped each day. The semifinal winners competed for the top-four places (Tier 1), while teams to lose on Saturday competed for places 5-8 (Tier 2), with Friday’s losers going for places 9-12 (Tier 3).

But remember, team prize money goes back to the team at LIV events. In the Team Championship, the teams keep 60 percent and each player takes home 10 percent. Not too shabby for three days (at most) of work.

Here’s how much money each team earned this week near Miami.

Bryson DeChambeau’s Crushers GC win 2023 LIV Golf Team Championship at Trump Doral, claim $14 million top prize

Dustin Johnson’s 4Aces GC finished fourth in their title defense at Trump National Doral.

DORAL, Fla. — Four teams entered Sunday’s final round of the 2023 LIV Golf Team Championship with a shot at the title, and come the back nine at Trump National Doral’s Blue Monster it was a two-horse race.

Down the stretch, Bryson DeChambeau’s Crushers GC came out on top at 11 under to claim the title and the $14 million top prize, two shots ahead of runner-up RangeGoats GC. Torque GC finished third at 6 under, with last year’s defending champion 4Aces GC in fourth at even par.

The low man for the low team was Anirban Lahiri, who shot a bogey-free 7-under 65 in the final round. DeChambeau was two shots behind at 5-under 67, with Charles Howell III at even and Paul Casey at 1 over.

“We are watching the leaderboards, and I was thankful every time I looked up and saw Bryson and (Anirban) make another birdie,” said Howell III. “You know you’ve got these finishing holes ahead, right, and there’s water everywhere and trickiness and the greens were fast.”

“It was very nerving wracking. Finishing it off, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, I was super nervous not knowing what could happen,” said DeChambeau. “Everybody was in flux and I wasn’t driving it particularly my best. I did it very well on the front nine but the back nine didn’t do it as well, and it’s one of those things that I was just trying to hit the best shot I possibly could. I was super nervous. I couldn’t feel my arms over the ball on the last hole.”

“When I was 7-under playing 18, which was my 17th hole and we were only two or three shots ahead, and you know, normal circumstance, I’m going 15, 20 feet right of the flag. I went straight at it,” added Lahiri. “Didn’t hit a good shot. But you know, the mentality was different. It didn’t matter where I was or what I was shooting. What mattered was where the team was and what the team needed. I’m just glad I showed up for the team on a Sunday.”

The RangeGoats earned $8 million, with $6 million going to Torque and $4 million to the 4Aces. As of this year, team prize money goes back to the team at LIV events. In the Team Championship, the teams keep 60 percent and each player takes home 10 percent.

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Bryson DeChambeau drove a green (and hospitality stand?) and somehow made birdie at 2023 LIV Golf Team Championship

DeChambeau made one of the weirdest birdies you’ll see at Trump National Doral.

DORAL, Fla. — With the team title on the line, Bryson DeChambeau made a circus birdie down the stretch Sunday at the 2023 LIV Golf Team Championship.

With the tee pushed up, DeChambeau went to drive the green on the short par-4 16th and somehow hit it over the “Birdie Shack” hospitality stand and across the No. 2 green, located behind the 16th green and grandstand. After his ball presumably hit the cart path, the 30-year-old was forced to wait for the group on No. 2 to clear the green before he could play his next shot.

His approach attempt had to carry the hospitality stand and took a little math (and a lot of guessing) to lock in a yardage. DeChambeau’s caddie said 109 yards was the number and from there he hit a miraculous second within 25 feet, completely blind, to keep his struggling team’s title hopes alive.

From there, of course DeChambeau made the putt, sending a much-needed jolt of electricity through the dormant crowd.

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Explaining the format: $50 million 2023 LIV Golf Team Championship moves to stroke play for final round

All 12 teams will be on the course on Sunday, but only four will be competing for the top prize.

DORAL, Fla. — After two days of match play, the 2023 LIV Golf Team Championship is heading back to stroke play.

Twelve teams made their way to Trump National Doral’s Blue Monster course for the $50 million season finale, and just four remain for the final round. Sort of.

Each of the 12 teams will be in action on Sunday but only the four winners from Saturday’s semifinal round – 4Aces GC, Crushers GC, RangeGoats GC and Torque GC – will be competing for the $14 million top prize.

“Still got to play golf. Just like match play, I mean, obviously, if you hit a bad shot you can’t just pick it up,” said Johnson of the switch from match to stroke play. “You’ve got to play solid, all four guys got to play well if you want to win. It takes a whole team effort tomorrow. I like it. It’s four teams and we’re battling for the trophy.”

The teams that lost on Saturday – Cleeks GC,  – will be competing for places 5-8, while Friday’s quarterfinal losers – Iron Heads GC, Majesticks GC, Ripper GC and Smash GC – will play for places 9-12.

“It’s a huge opportunity for us,” said DeChambeau about his Crushers. “Last year we left pretty sour, and this year is a different story. We’ve got some guys that are playing some better golf and I’m playing a little bit better.”

“Hopefully I can do that tomorrow and give ourselves an opportunity to win. We’ve been prepping for this all year,” he added. “And look, it’s 18 holes of golf. Anything can happen really and we’ve got a good team, we’ve just got to show it tomorrow.”

All 48 players will play 18 holes of shotgun start (1:05 p.m. ET) stroke play, with all four scores counting towards the final team score. You can watch from 1-6 p.m. ET on the CW or stream on the CW app or LIV Golf app.

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Top four seeds advance from 2023 LIV Golf Team Championship semifinals, will play for $14 million top prize

All 12 teams will be on the course on Sunday, but only four will be competing for the top prize.

DORAL, Fla. — If you were busy watching the loaded college football slate on Saturday, here’s what you missed from the semifinals of the 2023 LIV Golf Team Championship.

Sebastian Munoz had the performance of the day and put the first point on the board with his 7-and-6 drubbing of Stinger GC’s Branden Grace. Joaquin Niemann’s Torque GC went on to sweep Louis Oosthuizen’s Stinger, 3-0, in the semifinals to lock up the first of four top spots in Sunday’s final round.

Crushers GC’s Paul Casey put up a similar effort against Richard Bland of Cleeks GC with a 6-and-5 shellacking that helped advance the Crushers, captained by Bryson DeChambeau, into the top four. The second clinching point came from DeChambeau in his captain’s match against Martin Kaymer, where the bulked-up bomber won, 4 and 3.

Cameron Tringale dog walked Patrick Reed around the Blue Monster course for most of the round before letting him off the leash after 15 holes, 4 and 3. That would be the lone win for HyFlyers GC as the 4Aces GC advanced to defend their 2022 title thanks Dustin Johnson’s 2-and-1 win over Phil Mickelson and Pat Perez/Peter Uihlein’s 4-and-3 victory over James Piot/Brendan Steele.

Sergio Garcia made quick work of Bubba Watson in the captain’s match between Fireballs GC and RangeGoats GC, 4 and 3. Harold Varner III/Thomas Pieters tied the match with their 2-and-1 foursomes win over Carlos Ortiz/Abraham Ancer. The season-long 2023 individual champion Talor Gooch – which earned the 30-year-old an $18 million bonus – put the deciding point on the board with his 2-up win over Eugenio Chacarra.

All 48 players will play 18 holes of shotgun start (1:05 p.m. ET) stroke play on Sunday in the final round, with all four scores counting towards the final team score. Only the four winners from Saturday’s semifinal round – 4Aces GC, Crushers GC, RangeGoats GC and Torque GC – will be competing for the $14 million top prize.

The teams that lost on Saturday – Cleeks GC, Fireballs GC, HyFlyers GC and Stinger GC – will be competing for places 5-8, while Friday’s quarterfinal losers – Iron Heads GC, Majesticks GC, Ripper GC and Smash GC – will play for places 9-12. You can watch from 1-6 p.m. ET on the CW or stream on the CW app or LIV Golf app.

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Dustin Johnson vs. Phil Mickelson highlights Saturday’s semifinal round at 2023 LIV Golf Team Championship

Here’s what you need to know about Friday’s quarterfinals and Saturday’s semifinal round.

DORAL, Fla. — Two matches went to extra holes in the quarterfinals of the 2023 LIV Golf Team Championship, setting a high bar for Saturday’s semifinal round.

The four teams which had a bye – Dustin Johnson’s 4Aces GC, Bryson DeChambeau’s Crushers GC, Joaquin Niemann’s Torque GC and Bubba Watson’s RangeGoats GC – will all be in action for the first time this week come Saturday’s 1:15 p.m. ET shotgun start at Trump National Doral.

Those four captains were able to pick their opponents, which set up a couple solid matches for Saturday’s action. Johnson will take on Phil Mickelson as the 4Aces GC will play HyFlyers GC in the marquee match of the round. Watson vs. Sergio Garcia might draw some eyes as well as the RangeGoats GC battle Fireballs GC. DeChambeau’s Crushers will play Martin Kaymer’s Cleeks GC, leaving Niemann’s Torque GC to play Louis Oosthuizen’s Stinger GC.

Here are the second-round matches for Saturday’s semifinal round.

4Aces GC vs. HyFlyers GC

  • Singles: Dustin Johnson vs. Phil Mickelson
  • Singles: Patrick Reed vs. Cameron Tringale
  • Foursomes: Pat Perez/Peter Uihlein vs. James Piot/Brendan Steele

RangeGoats GC vs. Fireballs GC

  • Singles: Bubba Watson vs. Sergio Garcia
  • Singles: Talor Gooch vs. Eugenio Chacarra
  • Foursomes: Harold Varner III/Thomas Pieters vs. Carlos Ortiz/Abraham Ancer

Crushers GC vs. Cleeks GC

  • Singles: Bryson DeChambeau vs. Martin Kaymer
  • Singles: Paul Casey vs. Richard Bland
  • Foursomes: Anirban Lahiri/Charles Howell III vs. Graeme McDowell/Bernd Wiesberger

Torque GC vs. Stinger GC

  • Singles: Joaquin Niemann vs. Louis Oosthuizen
  • Singles: Sebastian Munoz vs. Branden Grace
  • Foursomes: Mito Pereira/David Puig vs. Charl Schwartzel/Dean Burmester
2023 LIV Golf Team Championship Miami
Brooks Koepka plays his shot from the 14th tee during the first round of the 2023 LIV Golf Team Championship Miami at Trump National Doral. (Photo: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports)

The best performances from Friday came from Smash GC’s Brooks Koepka, who beat Mickelson, 6 and 4, and Eugenio Chacarra of the Fireballs, who rolled Majesticks GC’s Sam Horsfield, 6 and 5. The only first-round sweep was Stinger GC’s 3-0 shellacking of Kevin Na’s Iron Heads GC, where none of the three matches reached 18 holes.

Big money awaits

A whopping $50 million is on the line this week, with $14 million going to the winning team. The format features a mix of both match and stroke play. Friday’s quarterfinal and Saturday’s semifinal matches include three matches in each round, two singles and a foursomes (alternate shot). No ties. The first team to two points wins and advances. (You can read more about the format here).

Come Sunday, all 12 teams will compete in stroke play, where all four scores will count (in regular season events, the worst score is dropped from the team total), but only the top four teams can win the top prize. The teams to lose on Saturday will compete for places 5-8, with Friday’s losers going for places 9-12.

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Phil Mickelson uses PGA Tour board member’s quote to call his shot for LIV Golf’s future

“I’m excited about who’s coming for next year and over time, we’ll just keep getting better,” said Lefty.

DORAL, Fla. – One of the last people you’d expect Phil Mickelson to quote after a lost match at the 2023 LIV Golf Team Championship would be a PGA Tour board member, right? Well, that’s precisely what happened Friday at Trump National Doral.

Mickelson, the captain of the HyFlyers GC, got drubbed by Smash GC’s Brooks Koepka, 6 and 4, in Friday’s quarterfinal round of the upstart circuit’s $50 million finale. After the round, when asked about his quote earlier in the week that he “knows” more talent is coming to LIV Golf, Mickelson doubled down and invoked a quote from PGA Tour board member Jimmy Dunne.

During a congressional hearing to discuss the groundbreaking framework agreement between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund – LIV’s financial backer – Dunne said if LIV continued to lure just five PGA Tour players per year to its ranks then “in five years, they can gut us.”

Mickelson refused to give any names or detail how many new players may be joining, but he couldn’t help but smile when talking about the new blood joining his team.

“I’m excited about who’s coming for next year and over time, we’ll just keep getting better and better and getting better and better players and that’s the game plan and I love the commitment. I love that I’m a part of it,” Mickelson told Golfweek after his match. “I know that, just like Jimmy Dunne said in Congress, like it’s exactly what’s gonna happen.”

Similar claims were made around Trump National Doral last year about an influx of new talent joining for 2023, and that amounted to the likes of Dean Burmester, Danny Lee, Sebastian Munoz, Thomas Pieters, Mito Pereira and Brendan Steele, who, with all due respect, don’t quite move the needle in LIV’s direction. Mickelson believes the framework agreement opens the door for better talent to make the jump to LIV.

“The reality is I’ve been fielding calls, as we all have, from players that are free agents to PGA Tour players to DP World Tour players that want to come over and the spots probably going to be filled by the time the qualifying tournament is here,” Mickelson said earlier in the week. “I think the merger talks allow for it. I think it kind of opens the door for it, yeah.”

The offseason transfer window opens Monday, and LIV officials envision four to six spots being open across its current 12 teams. With its shotgun start format, the league can accommodate up to 15 teams, which would open the door for more players to join its ranks. Until then, we wait and see.

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Storylines, what to watch for at the 2023 LIV Golf Team Championship in Miami

Everything you need to know for the weekend in Miami.

DORAL, Fla. — Who’s ready for a little match play?

The LIV Golf Team Championship is back at Trump National Doral this week, where the league’s 12 teams will contend for a $50 million purse that will see a whopping $14 million go to the winner just a week after Talor Gooch claimed the $18 million individual championship. Dustin Johnson’s 4Aces GC are back to defend their title – this year with Peter Uihlein instead of Gooch – and are one of four teams to earn a bye for Friday’s quarterfinal round of matches.

The format is unlike any other in golf (par for the course for LIV) and features a mix of both match and stroke play. Friday’s quarterfinal and Saturday’s semifinal matches will include three matches in each round, two singles and a foursomes (alternate shot). No ties. The first team to two points wins and advances. (You can read more about the format here).

Come Sunday, all 12 teams will compete in stroke play, where all four scores will count (in regular season events, the worst score is dropped from the team total), but only the top four teams can win the top prize. The teams to lose on Saturday will compete for places 5-8, with Friday’s losers going for places 9-12.

Here’s everything you need to know and storylines to watch for this week near Miami.

Greg Norman speaks publicly for first time since framework agreement on LIV Golf and his future

Norman emphatically has “zero” concerns about LIV Golf or his place in its future.

DORAL, Fla. — Greg Norman hasn’t spoken publicly since the shocking announcement of the framework agreement between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund back in June.

It was fitting for the Great White Shark to resurface at this week’s LIV Golf Team Championship, held at Trump National Doral where Norman was a three-time winner in 1990, 1993 and 1996 (he lights up talking about his playoff win in 1990). In a small session with reporters, Norman talked about the future of LIV Golf and addressed the swirling rumors of his long-term position as CEO and commissioner of the upstart circuit.

“I knew it wasn’t true,” Norman said of claims he wouldn’t have a position in the wake of the congressional hearings regarding the framework agreement. “There’s so much white noise running around out there, I paid very, very, I actually paid zero attention to it. I know sitting in this seat today, I know every step I’ve made has been for the right reasons, right reasons for the game of golf … So I was never in any fear of anybody saying anything or any animus against me or anything like that. Because the business model works.”

Norman added that he has “zero” concerns about the future of LIV due to the investments that have already been made and his belief in the viability of the franchise model.

“All indications show you that the position of LIV has never been stronger and the position and success of our players and our brand has never been in a better place,” claimed Norman. “As we look forward into 2024, we’ve got a full schedule now, some places we’ve been to before, but we’ve got some new venues as well, reaching different new regions.”

The exact locations have yet to be confirmed but the plan is for six events to be hosted in the United States with eight held internationally. LIV will return to some venues, leave others in the past and plant new flags at other properties around the world. A schedule release is expected within the next few weeks.

The two-time major champion said he isn’t involved in discussions with the PIF or PGA Tour, but on multiple occasions praised the framework agreement, even saying he hopes it works for the Tour, as well.

“The framework agreement really is a bit of a catalyst because of the recognizing the commercialization of what we are doing here at LIV,” explained Norman. “Private equity has never been invested in the game. We’re an asset class now. And that asset class is in the teams. … So we’re in that position now where the true valuation of where we were in the beta season to the valuation of where we are today is real and going up and up and up.”

“I’m just proud that we were over to do that. And now over here at the framework of agreement, I hope it happens for the PGA Tour as well, too,” he continued. “I hope that works because that’s the best thing for golf, creating this value chain that’s been sitting idle for 53 years.”

The stalling discussions with regard to the framework agreement have led fans and the media to ponder if it will eventually be passed before the end of the year. Norman put to bed any speculation that LIV would be negatively impacted, regardless of the outcome.

“LIV is independent,” he said with confidence bordering on cockiness. “I don’t see LIV going anywhere but up.”

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Photos: 2023 LIV Golf Team Championship at Trump National Doral in Miami

Here’s a look at some of the best photos from the 2023 LIV Golf Team Championship. 

It’s time for the LIV Golf season finale.

Event No. 14 is here for LIV in its second season, as the circuit moves to Trump National Doral in Miami for its team championship.

The format will look similar to last year’s event: a little bit of match play, a little bit of stroke play with a whole lot of money on the line.

Teams have been earning points all season based on their finishes: the winning team goes home with 32 points, while Nos. 9-12 in the weekly standings leave empty-handed. After LIV’s final regular-season event in Jeddah last week, teams were seeded based on their position in the final standings.

The three-day shotgun start event features a $50 million purse as well as a mix of singles and foursomes matches in the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds on Friday and Saturday, with stroke play for Sunday’s final round.

Here’s a look at some of the best photos from the 2023 LIV Golf Team Championship.