A dramatic finish at Sentosa Golf Club saw Bryson DeChambeau claim his fourth LIV Golf individual title after a tense playoff against Canada’s Richard Lee at LIV Golf Singapore.
DeChambeau looked in trouble on the first extra hole when his tee shot at the par-5 18th found the water hazard down the left side of the fairway. Facing the likelihood of scrambling just to stay alive in the play-off, DeChambeau produced a nerveless recovery, getting up-and-down for par after his penalty drop.
Lee, meanwhile, appeared to have the advantage after his tee shot finished in a fairway bunker, forcing a lay-up but leaving him safely in play. His approach found the green, leaving a 10-foot putt for birdie that would have secured a remarkable victory. The putt slid by, and the drama deepened when the Canadian, who is playing the league on a wildcard this season, missed the short par putt coming back, handing DeChambeau the title.
“A lot of emotion right now,” said DeChambeau after the win. “Good emotion, struggling emotion – just everything that you could possibly imagine. But a lot of joy.”
Lee had earlier forced the playoff with a superb finish in regulation. The LIV Golf newcomer birdied the par-5 18th to card a five-under-par 66 and reach 14-under for the tournament. Playing in the final group behind him, DeChambeau matched that birdie to sign for his own 66 and extend the contest.
The final round was played in difficult conditions, with two rain delays interrupting play at Sentosa. When action resumed, both players made their move, with DeChambeau playing the back nine in two under par, while Lee birdied four of his final six holes to put the pressure on the American.
The pair had earlier chased down Torque GC captain Joaquin Niemann, who led by two shots before the weather interruption. Niemann struggled after the restart, making three bogeys on the closing stretch and eventually finishing fourth.
Lee Westwood produced one of the stories of the week with a final round 69 to finish alone third. The 52-year-old, making just his second start of the season following a wrist injury, was playing in the final group of a LIV Golf event for the first time.
“I’m really proud,” Westwood said. “It’s been a while since I’ve been in the final group when it’s meant something.”
There was also success in the team competition for Dustin Johnson’s 4Aces GC, who secured their second consecutive victory in Asia following last week’s triumph in Hong Kong. The team produced the lowest aggregate score of the day with an 11-under-par final round.
Belgian Thomas Pieters led the charge with a bogey-free 65, while Anthony Kim and Johnson each added rounds of 69. Thomas Detry contributed a 70 as the 4Aces finished five shots clear of the field.
