Cameron Smith played in his last event before defending his Open championship later this month, and he survived Sunday’s closing bogey to win the LIV golf tournament at London’s Centurion Club.
The Aussie shot a 3-under 68 to finish at 15-under by one stroke, ahead of American Patrick Reed (65 on Sunday) and fellow Reaper golf club Mark Leishman (66) of Australia.
Smith made three birdies (No. 2, 3, and 8) and one bogey (No. 5) in the lead nine. On the back nine, birdies came in at No. 10, 13, and par-3 17, but the bogeys were No. 12 and at the 529-yard hole, taking no cushion.
Reed entered the day in fifth place at eight under. 4 GC aces won the team title at 34-under. Her fellow Americans Pat Perez (9-under) and Dustin Johnson (10-under) were among the top scorers.
The Ripper team of Australians Smith, Lishman and Jedideh Morgan (even) finished second, just one stroke behind on 33-under after Smith missed a putt at 18.
“Obviously he’s happy with the individual win, but it was nice to be out there with the boys,” said Smith. “I hit a good shot too, so yeah, I think there are some mixed feelings at the moment.”
The Stinger GC – with scores from South African Louis Oosthuizen (12 under), Dean Burmester (7 under) and Branden Grace (6 under) – was third at 29 under.
Smith’s last win was in September at the LIV event near Chicago.