Cameron Smith's Ripper GC took the LIV Golf Team Championship title after a thrilling final round at Maridoe Golf Club in Dallas.
Four teams were in with a chance of the trophy heading into the final round - Ripper GC, Dustin Johnson's 4 Aces GC, Kevin Na's Iron Heads GC and Legion XIII GC, whose captain Jon Rahm was absent after withdrawing on Saturday with "severe flu symptoms."
In the end, only Legion XIII, perhaps suffering from the absence of Rahm, never really looked like hitting the top of the leaderboard during the day, as the team eventually finished five shots off the winners.
However, it was only in the closing holes that the all-Australian team began to emerge as a clear favorite.
Earlier, 4 Aces GC held a three-shot lead at one point before that was not only cancelled out by Iron Heads GC, but the bottom seed even briefly held a two-shot lead well into the second half of the day's action.
That came after the 4 Aces GC began to falter soon after Johnson and Patrick Reed missed crucial birdie putts that could have given the team a five-shot lead.
With the greatest shock in LIV Golf's history very much on track, the leaderboard once again closed up, in part due to some brilliant displays of putting by Smith and teammate Lucas Herbert to give Ripper GC momentum.
Still, there was more to come and, after 4 Aces GC came back into it, there was for a time a three-way tie for the lead with holes running out.
Even Legion XIII had a chance at that point, with Tyrrell Hatton leading the charge, although its resurgence stalled when two adrift. Ultimately, that left 4Aces GC and Iron Heads GC the two with any realistic chance of catching Ripper GC as the captains headed to the 18th hole.
At that point, Smith's side held a two-shot lead, with 4 Aces GC its closest challengers, but it was as good as over as a contest when Johnson found the water with his tee shot.
Smith didn't have any such wobbles and, while Johnson had to settle for bogey and Na made par for Iron Heads GC, the 2022 Open champion remained steady, holing the final putt of the day for par to hand Ripper GC a three-shot win and its first Team Championship title.
Afterwards, Smith paid tribute to everyone involved with Ripper GC, saying: "It's so good. 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."
Further down the leaderboard, Louis Ooosthuizen's Stinger GC finished top of tier 2 in fifth, with Fireballs GC, Crushers GC and HyFlyers GC beneath them. Brooks Koepka's Smash GC finished rock bottom on 12-over, not helped by an 80 from the captain.
LIV Golf Team Championship Leaderboard
Tier One
-11 Ripper GC
-8 4Aces GC
-8 Iron Heads GC
-6 Legion XIII GC
Tier Two
- -15 Stinger GC
- -14 Fireballs GC
- -2 Crushers GC
- -2 Hy Flyers GC
Tier Three
- -5 Majesticks GC
- -4 Torque GC
- -1 Cleeks GC
- +4 Range Goats GC
- +12 Smash GC
LIV Golf Team Championship Individual Leaderboard
Ripper GC
-4 Cameron Smith (C)
-3 Lucas Herbert
-2 Marc Leishman
-2 Matt Jones
4Aces GC
-3 Dustin Johnson (C)
-3 Patrick Reed
-1 Pat Perez
-1 Harold Varner III
Iron Heads GC
-3 Jinichiro Kozuma
-3 Kevin Na (C)
-2 Danny Lee
E Scott Vincent
Legion XIII GC
-4 Tyrrell Hatton
-2 John Catlin
-1 Caleb Surratt
+1 Kieran Vincent
Updates from...
Current State Of Play
After over seven months, it’s the final round of the 14th event of the LIV Golf season, the Team Championship.
Strokeplay is the order of the day, with all 52 players from the 13 teams on the course with nine to play. Only four of the teams have a chance of winning the trophy and $14m prize money though.
With nine holes to play, Dustin Johnson’s 4 Aces GC lead the way at six-under. One behind them is Kevin Na’s Iron Heads GC, with Cameron Smith’s Ripper GC on three-under and a Jon Rahm-less Legion XIII on one-under.
A Shock In The Offing?
Iron Heads GC is the surprise package, having begun the tournament as the 13th and bottom seed.
The team knocked out Bryson DeChambeau’s Crushers GC in the semi-finals and they’re going well today too, just one off the lead.
That’s surprising given the individual performances of the four players this season. Captain Kevin Na finished 33rd in the Individual Standings in 2024, with Danny Lee in 38th, Kozuma in 45th and Vincent finishing in the Drop Zone in 50th.
Legion XIII Missing Rahm?
A look at the leaderboard shows us that Legion XIII are bottom of the four who can win the Team Championship, six of leaders 4 Aces GC. So, are they missing ill captain Jon Rahm?
Maybe a little, but the real issue is that Kieran Vincent is out of sorts at three-over. Tyrrell Hatton is keeping the team in it. He's three-under with nine to play. John Catlin, who is standing in for Rahm, is one-under for the round with Caleb Surratt on the same score.
DJ Extends 4 Aces GC Lead
Dustin Johnson has just made a birdie to extend 4 Aces GC's lead over the Iron Heads GC to two. Of course, that can all change quickly, particularly with nine to play, but at the moment, the two-time Major winner's team is in the driving seat in Dallas.
Three-Shot Lead For 4 Aces GC
And just like that, the 4 Aces GC lead becomes three with a Harold Varner III birdie putt. There are eight to play, so no panic yet for the three chasing, but it's starting to look a little ominous.
Iron Heads Up For The Fight
The Iron Heads may be the underdogs but they're making a fight of this. Despite slipping three behind 4 Aces GC, both Kevin Na has just played an excellent tee shot on the par 3 11th to leave a birdie opportunity.
4 Aces Experience To Prove Vital?
4 Aces GC won the first Team Championship, in 2022, while it finished fourth last year after heading into the tournament at the top of the team standings.
Dustin Johnson's men only finished 10th this year, but that counts for nothing at this stage - will experience help get them over the line? They certainly have players for the big occasion in DJ and 2018 Masters champion Patrick Reed.
There's a sense that the chasing pack wouldn't want them extending their three-shot lead by much more, even with eight to play.
Close Calls For The 4 Aces
Having just mentioned that Johnson and Reed are players for the big moments for 4 Aces GC, they've each just narrowly missed birdie putts that would have extended the team's lead to five. As it stands, they're still three ahead and looking like the favorites for the $14m first prize.
DJ Leading By Example
A look at the birdie putt from captain Dustin Johnson that handed 4 Aces GC a three-shot lead. That's how it stands with seven to play.
DJ leading from the front 🫡He sinks the birdie to extend the @4AcesGC_ lead to 8-under 🔥#LIVGolf pic.twitter.com/bWNPYsdvlnSeptember 22, 2024
A Slip-Up For Ripper GC
Lucas Herbert has just missed a putt for par at the 13th to go to one-over for his round and drop Ripper GC to three-under. Cameron Smith's team now needs to claw back five shots on leaders 4 Aces GC
A Setback For 4 Aces GC
Just when 4 Aces GC appeared to be strengthening its grip on events, Pat Perez produced a bogey to move the leaders back to two of Iron Heads GC. This is far from over.
Iron Heads On The Move
Make that a one-shot lead. Kevin Na has just made birdie to pull Iron Heads GC within touching distance of 4 Aces GC with six to play. Just a couple of minutes ago, 4 Aces GC's win probability was put at 64%, with Na's team a distant third on 16%. That will have come in considerably now.
Iron Heads GC Take The Lead!
Wow. There's a real shock on the cards here. Just a few minutes ago, 4 Aces GC had birdie chances to open up a five-shot lead. They didn't take them and Iron Heads GC has hit back with quickfire birdies for Kevin Na, Jinichiro Kozuma and Danny Lee after Pat Perez bogeyed for the 4 Aces. Incredibly, that leaves Iron Heads - who began the tournament as the bottom seed - one ahead with six to play!
Chances Of Winning?
Iron Heads GC's win probability has increased to 43% and slight favorites. The computer doesn't fancy Legion XIII's chances though - the team has been given just a 1% probability, and sits seven off the lead.
Iron Heads Saving The Best Until Last
Before the tournament, Iron Heads GC had zero wins this season, zero top-five finishes and, in many people's eyes, zero chances of winning the Team Championship. Could they be on the verge of going from zeros to heroes? It's looking more than possible as Kevin Na's team retains its one-shot lead with six to play.
Ripper On A Role
The attention has rightly been on Iron Heads GC and 4 Aces GC at the top of the leaderboard, but don't write off Ripper GC just yet. Matt Jones has just made a birdie to bring them to two off the lead and level with 4 Aces GC, who are back to six-under after a bogey from Harold Varner III. The Iron Heads lead by two!
Smith Continues Ripper Resurgence
And now Cameron Smith has made a birdie to bring Ripper GC to seven-under and one shot off the lead. Suddenly, from being three ahead, Dustin Johnson's 4 Aces GC are in third and two behind.
Ripper GC Take Share Of The Lead
Ripper GC is now level at the top with Iron Heads GC at eight-under after a wonderful birdie putt from Cameron Smith. Even worse for the Iron Heads GC is that Scott Vincent just found the water from his tee shot at the 18th.
There are four holes to play of the LIV Golf season and we're still no nearer knowing who will take the Team Championship trophy.
Cam Smith doing Cam Smith things 😎The captain gets his @rippergc_ to 8-under 📈#LIVGolf pic.twitter.com/S5JkYm830sSeptember 22, 2024
Anybody's Title With Four To Play
Just when Ripper GC took an outright lead, Matt Jones double-bogeyed to bring them back level with Iron Heads GC at seven-under, who had also just seen damaging bogeys from Danny Lee and Scott Vincent. 4 Aces GC are one behind at six-under with Legion XIII at two-under. Which way will it go?
Further Down The Leaderboard...
A quick update on what's going on elsewhere on the leaderboard. Stinger GC currently lead Tier 2, with Fireballs GC, Hy Flyers GC and Crushers GC beneath them. At the foot of the leaderboard is Brooks Koepka's Smash GC.
Ripper GC Back On Top
Ripper GC are back in the lead after a long putt for birdie was converted by Lucas Herbert. The all-Australian team are at eight-under, one ahead of Iron Heads GC.
All Change At The Top
We briefly had a three-way tie for the lead, with 4 Aces back in the picture after birdies from Dustin Johnson and Harold Varner III, but Matt Jones responded by giving Ripper GC the outright lead with his own birdie. Ripper GC lead by one over 4 Aces GC and Iron Heads GC.
Legion XIII Find Crucial Birdies To Remain In Contention
You'd think they've left it too late, but Legion XIII aren't quite out of it just yet after all four of its player made quickfire birdies to take the team to six-under, just two off Ripper GC at the top. Meanwhile, a bogey from Marc Leishman brings Ripper GC back to eight-under with 4 Aces GC and Iron Heads GC. All four can still win it with three to play.
Herbert's Heroics
Ripper GC are currently indebted to Lucas Herbert, who has made three successive birdies between the 15th and 17th. That leaves the team in a three-way tie for the lead with holes running out.
Iron Heads On The Wane?
Is the Iron Heads GC challenge fading? It looks that way after Kevin Na bogeyed the 16th to drop the underdogs back to seven-under, one behind Ripper GC and 4 Aces GC at the top. Legion XIII remain two behind on six-under.
Ripper GC Take One-Shot Lead In Closing Stages
Lucas Herbert had a fourth successive birdie chance, but while that didn't drop, another Ripper GC player, Matt Jones, stepped up soon after with a birdie at the second to give the team a one-shot lead with two to play. There are three shots between all four teams with two to play.
Late Surge From Legion XIII
Legion XIII isn't quite out of it just yet, although it looks like it'll be too little, too late. They are now on seven-under after a Caleb Surratt birdie - although there is now just one hole to play.
Ripper GC Still In Front
We're in the closing stages of the last tournament of the LIV Golf season, and Ripper GC remain in pole position to take thje Team Championship title. Cameron Smith's side are nine-under, one ahead of 4 Aces GC in Dallas.
Reed Finishing With A Flourish
A brilliant second shot from Patrick Reed at the 18th has left him just a few feet from the hole to leave what could be a crucial birdie putt as his team 4 Aces GC stands just one off the lead on his final hole.
Tight At The Top
Scott Vincent just birdied his final hole to bring Iron Heads GC back to eight-under, one behind Ripper GC and 4 Aces GC. In the latter's case, they have Harold Varner III to thank for draining a long putt to bring them level at nine-under.
Herbert Comes Up Clutch For Ripper GC
Lucas Herbert has just come up clutch with a sizeable birdie putt at the first to give Ripper GC a one-shot lead. It's almost there for the Australian outfit. Stunning fist pump, too, Lucas!
HUGE fist pump from Lucas Herbert 💪@rippergc_ take the solo lead on 9-under with 2 to play 👀#LIVGolf pic.twitter.com/4loh9HB9iESeptember 22, 2024
Brilliant From Smith
If you need reliability on the green you can't do much better than Cameron Smith, and he's just followed Lucas Herbert's crucial birdie put with a relatively long birdie putt of his own to move Ripper GC two clear and closing in on the title.
Cam Smith gives @rippergc_ a 2 shot lead on 11-under heading to the 18th 😤#LIVGolf pic.twitter.com/A82HVG6UMJSeptember 22, 2024
Almost There For Cameron Smith's Ripper GC
We're on the final hole with Ripper GC two ahead of 4 Aces GC thanks to a putting masterclass from Lucas Herbert and Cameron Smith. We'll know within a few minutes if it will be enough, although it likely will be after Dustin Johnson found the water with his tee shot.
Ripper GC Wins Team Championship Title!
There's a new name on the Team Championship trophy. Following 4 Aces GC's win in 2022 and Crushers GC's victory in 2023, Cameron Smith's Ripper GC has closed out victory after a thrilling day at Maridoe Golf Club in Dallas.
It was a rollercoaster ride involving Ripper GC, 4 Aces GC, Iron Heads GC and Legion XIII for the title, but Smith and teammate Lucas Herbert, in particular, came up with crucial birdie putts in the closing stages to give the team a three-shot win and the $14m first prize.
4 Aces GC and Iron Heads GC finished three behind on eight-under, with Legion XIII fourth on six-under, five off the winning team.
