HUGE pay days for SA quartet at LIV Golf event at Trump National
American Harold Varner III edged South Africa’s Branden Grace by a single shot to win the LIV Golf Invitational – DC tournament and claim the $4 million top prize on Sunday. ALSO READ: Only a couple of South Africans to play US Open Varner, who ended 12-under for the three-round week, made birdie on his final hole, the par-5 18th, at the […]
American Harold Varner III edged South Africa’s Branden Grace by a single shot to win the LIV Golf Invitational – DC tournament and claim the $4 million top prize on Sunday.
ALSO READ: Only a couple of South Africans to play US Open
Varner, who ended 12-under for the three-round week, made birdie on his final hole, the par-5 18th, at the Trump National course in Sterling, Virginia, to avoid a playoff after Grace had also birdied his final hole, the par-4 second.
The win was the first, as a professional, on American soil for the 32-year-old Varner with his previous victories coming at the Australian PGA in 2016 and the Asian Tour’s PIF Saudi International last February.
Varner shot a four-under 68 in his final round after setting the early pace with his superb eight-under 64 on Friday.
ALSO READ: US Open – what you need to know about June’s Major
Grace had put himself in contention with a fine, bogey-free round of 66, including two birdies on the final three holes.
But Harold Varner III kept his cool and credited his attitude for a composed final-round performance.
ALSO READ: US Open – what you need to know about June’s Major
Chilean Mito Pereira had gone into the final day with a one-stroke lead but started with back-to-back bogeys and not even his eagle on the 13th could help as he ended with a 71 and two shots off the lead.
Brooks Koepka, who won the PGA Championship last week and became the first LIV golfer to win a major since the Saudi-backed tour was formed, finished 14th, seven shots behind Varner.
ALSO READ: Explained: Louis Oosthuizen may never play the Masters again
Grace earned $2.25 million (R44.3 million) for his runner-up finish.
The other three South Africans in the field also enjoyed handsome pay days.
Louis Oosthuizen finished in a tie for sixth and banked $615 000 (R12.1 million), while Dean Burmester (T15) earned $295 000 (R5.8 million).
Charl Schwartzel ended in a tie for 29th and took home $182 500 (R3.6 million).
But that’s not all!
The South African foursome, playing as the Stingers GC, combined to finish second in the team competition, earning an additional $375 000 (R7.4 million) each.
LIV GOLF DC INDIVIDUAL PRIZE MONEY
| Position | Player | Score | Earnings |
| 1 | Harold Varner III | -12 | $4,000,000 |
| 2 | Branden Grace | -11 | $2,250,000 |
| 3 | Mito Pereira | -10 | $1,500,000 |
| T4 | Sebastian Munoz | -8 | $900,000 |
| T4 | Henrik Stenson | -8 | $900,000 |
| T6 | Louis Oosthuizen | -7 | $615,000 |
| T6 | Kevin Na | -7 | $615,000 |
| T6 | Andy Ogletree | -7 | $615,000 |
| T9 | Bryson DeChambeau | -6 | $425,000 |
| T9 | Cameron Tringale | -6 | $425,000 |
| T9 | Cameron Smith | -6 | $425,000 |
| T12 | David Puig | -5 | $350,000 |
| T12 | Carlos Ortiz | -5 | $350,000 |
| T12 | Brooks Koepka | -5 | $350,000 |
| T15 | Peter Uihlein | -4 | $295,000 |
| T15 | Dean Burmester | -4 | $295,000 |
| T15 | Talor Gooch | -4 | $295,000 |
| T18 | Graeme McDowell | -3 | $250,000 |
| T18 | Eugenio Chacarra | -3 | $250,000 |
| T18 | Laurie Canter | -3 | $250,000 |
| T18 | Pat Perez | -3 | $250,000 |
| T18 | Scott Vincent | -3 | $250,000 |
| T23 | Matt Jones | -2 | $205,000 |
| T23 | Richard Bland | -2 | $205,000 |
| T23 | Dustin Johnson | -2 | $205,000 |
| T23 | Brendan Steele | -2 | $205,000 |
| T23 | Martin Kaymer | -2 | $205,000 |
| T23 | Ian Poulter | -2 | $205,000 |
| T29 | Charl Schwartzel | -1 | $182,500 |
| T29 | Anirban Lahiri | -1 | $182,500 |
| T31 | Joaquin Niemann | E | $167,500 |
| T31 | Sergio Garcia | E | $167,500 |
| T31 | Charles Howell III | E | $167,500 |
| T31 | Bernd Wiesberger | E | $167,500 |
| T35 | Marc Leishman | 1 | $148,000 |
| T35 | Danny Lee | 1 | $148,000 |
| T35 | Lee Westwood | 1 | $148,000 |
| T35 | James Piot | 1 | $148,000 |
| T35 | Patrick Reed | 1 | $148,000 |
| 40 | Bubba Watson | 2 | $140,000 |
| 41 | Jediah Morgan | 5 | $137,500 |
| T42 | Chase Koepka | 8 | $133,750 |
| T42 | Abraham Ancer | 8 | $133,750 |
| 44 | Phil Mickelson | 9 | $130,000 |
| 45 | Sihwan Kim | 14 | $127,500 |
TEAM PRIZE MONEY
| Position | Team | Score | Earnings |
| 1 | Torque GC | -27 | $3,000,000 |
| 2 | Stinger GC | -24 | $1,500,000 |
| 3 | RangeGoats GC | -19 | $500,000 |