The final round of LIV Golf Houston proved to be a thriller, with Carlos Ortiz (-15) taking home his first individual title while Cleeks GC (-33) secured their first ever team title.
Ortiz' steady play throughout the afternoon led to a final round 67, five-under on the day, was enough to secure the win. Having began the day tied for the lead, Cleek's Adrian Meronk and Torque's Ortiz were tied neck-and-neck until the 15th when Cleek's Meronk pulled his tee shot into the penalty area left of the fairway.
After a penalty drop, Meronk could only manage a bogey on the par 5, while Ortiz managed a smart up-and-down from the greenside bunker to birdie the same hole and secure a two shot win. It would prove to be enough for win despite a bogey on the final hole.
Cleeks GC would come from behind to sneak up on Fireballs GC and Smash GC early on the back nine to earn a dramatic win in the team tournament. Fireballs GC and Ripper GC traded blows on the front nine, with Ripper charging from nine behind to tie the lead before a dramatic collapse on the back nine.
Stellar back nine play from Richard Bland and former US Open champion Martin Kaymer, including a run of six birdies on the back nine, in addition to Meronk's final round of 68, got the Cleeks over the line with a two shot win over both Smash GC and Fireballs GC.
LIV GOLF HOUSTON INDIVIDUAL LEADERBOARD
- -16 ORTIZ
- -14 MERONK
- -13 REED, PUIG
LIV GOLF HOUSTON TEAM LEADERBOARD
- -33 CLEEKS GC
- -31 SMASH GC, FIREBALLS GC
- -26 TORQUE GC
Updates from...
GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME
Good evening everyone and welcome to our final round coverage of LIV Golf Houston, which is set up for a thrilling climax as four players sit tied for the lead and 17 players are within four strokes.
Aside from Joaquin Niemann and Dustin Johnson, 15 of those 17 have yet to pick up a LIV Golf title and, with 18 holes remaining, there is going to be lots of twists and turns ahead at the Golf Club of Houston. So sit back and relax as we take you through all the drama, with the players teeing off at 12.05pm local time.
JON RAHM INJURED
It's a packed leaderboard in Houston, but one player who will not be contending is former Masters champion Jon Rahm. The Spaniard withdrew yesterday sighting a cut between his toes and is now a doubt ahead of next week's US Open at Pinehurst No.2.
Despite a run of seven consecutive top-10s on the LIV circuit, it has been a tough season for Rahm having missed the cut at the PGA Championship last month.
Get well soon, Captain.#LegionXIII #LIVGolf pic.twitter.com/Ne3nvpqvoXJune 8, 2024
WE'RE UNDERWAY IN HOUSTON
With rap music blazing, Joaquin Neimann gets us underway on the first. He's rocking a bucket hat which is.... a bold choice.
GARCIA ALMOST HOLES OUT ON 3
With wedge in hand from the fairway, Garcia is inches away from holing out for an unlikely eagle. He'll have to settle for birdie and will move one off the lead.
REED BOGEYS THE FIRST, LEADERS TEE OFF
Patrick Reed makes a sloppy bogey on the first after a poor chip from the back of the green left him 20ft for par. Casey and Neimann secure routine pars while Meronk, Puig and Ortiz get their final rounds underway back on the tee.
PUIG HITS THE FLAG!
With just his second swing of the day, David Puig hits the pin on the fly. It wasn't friendly for him, with his ball rebounding off the front of the green and sitting down in the bermuda grass rough. Meronk and Ortiz both safely find the green and have 20footers for birdie.
MERONK BIRDIES THE FIRST, TAKES SOLO LEAD
Adrian Meronk makes the first major move of the day, rolling in his 20ft birdie putt on 1. Puig and Ortiz both par and now sit one back.
.@AdrianMeronk off and running 👀He birdies his first hole to take the solo lead at 11-under 📈#LIVGolf @Cleeks_GC pic.twitter.com/Wuikmk9z0uJune 9, 2024
PLAYERS BATTLING THE HOUSTON HEAT
With temperatures almost hitting 90F (33C), players are battling both the sun and the golf course. Brooks Koepka's caddie seems to have a damp towel ready for his player after every shot to try and deal with the heat.
BIRDIE-BIRDIE START FOR GARCIA
Sergio Garcia lays up on the Par-5 4th hole and it proves to be the right decision. he pitches to 8ft and rolls in the birdie putt to extend the Fireballs GC's lead in the team standings to four.
GARCIA FINDS THE WATER, NEIMANN BOGEYS
After such a good start, Garcia hooks one into the water off the tee on 5. Back on the 2nd, Neimann holes a gutsy 15ft putt for bogey to limit the damage after a poor tee shot.
GARCIA MAKES DOUBLE AS FIREBALLS LEAD CUT, FIREBALLS AND HERBERT ON A CHARGE
After finding the water off the tee, Garcia can only make a double bogey on the fifth. Meanwhile, Lucas Herbert rolls in a birdie on the 4th to take him to -9 and Ripper GC just three shots off the leading Fireballs GC.
Ripper GC are a combined -5 for the day already!
RIPPER GC ON FIRE!
Matt Jones making a Sunday charge 🔥@rippergc_ sit just 3 back on the team leaderboard 📈#LIVGolf pic.twitter.com/TWZdPD202DJune 9, 2024
Both Matt Jones and Marc Leishman roll in birdie putts on the 13th to cut the Fireballs' lead to just one shot!
ORTIZ AND PUIG TIES SOLO LEAD
Carlos Ortiz finds the bottom of the cup on the 3rd and joins Adrian Meronk in a tie for 1st place at -11.
Moments later, David Puig does the same and we have a three-way tie at the top!
CASEY JOINS THE LEADERS AT -11
After finding the Par-5 4th green in two, Casey rolls a long eagle putt to tap-in distance to make it a four-way tie at the top.
RIPPER GC -10 FOR THE DAY AFTER ANOTHER CAM SMITH BIRDIE
WOW! WHAT A SHOT CAM! 🙌🙌#RipperGC #LIVGolf pic.twitter.com/3fiBbPgzcZJune 9, 2024
Team Captain Smith finds another birdie on the 11th to move Ripper GC (-27) within two shots of the leading Fireballs (-29). Smith himself moves to -7 on the individual leaderboard.
RIPPER GC TAKE TEAM LEAD
Wow. All four men are on fire! Matt Jones has now birdied four of the last five holes with a birdie on 13, and Ripper GC have the solo team lead! A ten-shot swing in seven holes is complete!
JONES -5 THRU 7
It's yet another birdie for Matt Jones, this time on 16. He's -5 thru seven holes as Ripper GC reach the -30 mark.
PUIG TAKES SOLO LEAD AS FIREBALLS TIE TEAM LEAD
Puig rolls in a beautiful 18ft birdie putt in on the 5th to be the first player to reach -12. The birdie also catapults his Fireballs GC into a share of the lead with Ripper GC on -30.
PUIG HITS APPROACH CLOSE ON 6, JONES BOGEYS
Puig is looking to extend his lead at the top after hitting a wedge from around 120 yards on 6 to roughly 10 feet. Matt Jones can't keep his hot streak going up ahead and bogeys the 17th which means Ripper GC fall back to -29, one back of Fireballs GC.
ORTIZ, MERONK AND PUIG TRADING BIRDIES
After excellent wedge shots by all three players in the final group, all three roll home their birdie attempts on the 6th.
Meronk and Ortiz both move to -12, while Puig maintains a one-shot lead at -13.
Puig's birdie sneaks the Fireballs GC (-31) out in front of Ripper GC (-30).
THE TEAM LEADERBOARD TURNAROUND
What a Sunday charge happening by @rippergc_ to climb the leaderboard 📈#LIVGolf pic.twitter.com/mMoNrsI7WkJune 9, 2024
Here's a visual representation of how far back Ripper GC have come from to challenge Fireballs GC for the LIV Houston team title.
ORTIZ STIFFS TEE SHOT ON PAR-3 7TH, TIES THE LEAD
Carlos Ortiz hits a beautiful tee shot on 7 inside 5 feet. He would go on to tap in for his birdie to tie David Puig at -13.
BUCKET HAT - YAY OR NAY?
Here's the bucket hat Neimann is rocking today in Houston. If he's a superstitious guy, chances are we wont see it again... he's currently +3 for the day.
ORTIZ TAKES SOLO LEAD WITH BACK-TO-BACK BIRDIES
Meronk, Puig and Ortiz all found the green-side bunker on the 8th, however only one could successfully get up-and-down.
Step forward Ortiz, who drains his 6ft birdie putt to reach -14, one ahead of Puig and two ahead of Meronk.
CASEY BIRDIES TO MOVE ONE BACK
Paul Casey holes a 20-footer on 10 to move within one of the lead. He'll likely be in solo third in a few moments, with Meronk staring at a 20ft par putt on 9 after a poor putt from off the back of the green. Given the amount of fringe grass he had to putt through, it's surprising he didn't chip it...
GUTSY PAR FOR MERONK, PUIG BOGEYS THE 9TH
Meronk rolls in that 20ft par putt into the heart of the cup to remain two back of Carlos Ortiz.
David Puig too had a 15ft tester for his par, but it slides by the right lip of the hole.
With a comfortable two-putt par on the same hole, Ortiz now has a two shot lead heading into the back nine.
THE STANDINGS WITH NINE HOLES TO GO
Your leaderboard thru 9 holes on Championship Sunday🏆Individual:1: @carlosortizGolf (-14)T2: @PuigCorrius (-12)T2: @AdrianMeronk T2: @Paul_Casey 5: @PReedGolf (-11)Team:1: @fireballsgc_ (-32)T2: @rippergc_ (-28)T2: @Crushers_GC (-28)4: @Cleeks_GC (-25)5: @TorqueGC_… pic.twitter.com/MCrabzlTuZJune 9, 2024
Here is how the leaderboard looks with half of the final round complete in Houston.
ANOTHER BIRDIE LOOK FOR ORTIZ, RIPPER GC GOING BACKWARDS
A solid approach shot from around 140 yards on 10 will give Ortiz another opportunity for birdie and the prospect of extending his two shot lead further.
Meanwhile in the team leaderboard, Ripper GC are going backwards.
After birdies on five of his opening seven holes, Matt Jones has bogeyed four of his last five, sliding Ripper into third place behind Crushers GC.
CASEY FINDS THE WATER ON 12
A terrible drive by Paul Casey sees his tee shot splash in the middle of the water hazard right of the 12th fairway. It looked like the club slipped in his hand at impact. Regardless, he'll have his work cut out to stay in the fight for the individual title as he already finds himself two back.
ORTIZ LOOKING COMFORTABLE, FINDS THE GREEN ON 11
Per LIV's broadcast, Ortiz has a 59% win probability with 8 holes to play.
He's safely aboard the green at 11 with about 30ft to go, meaning he's hit every single green in regulation today. Sustainable.
His playing partners Puig and Meronk both have birdie looks too, but outside ones at that.
RIPPER RETAKE 2ND PLACE IN TEAM STANDINGS
The drama, at the moment, can be found in the team leaderboard.
A bogies for Bryson DeChambeau on 10 and John Catlin on 18 mean they fall to -27, one back of Ripper GC. Casey also looks set to drop at least one after finding the water on 12.
However, Cam Smith has just found the drink on 18 with his approach shot. Expect plenty more twists and turns on the teams front before the end of play!
MERONK BIRDIES 11, CLEEKS UP TO 2ND!
Setting up a birdie to go one shot back 🙌#LIVGolf #CleeksGC pic.twitter.com/RKlabZg21SJune 9, 2024
The number of leaderboard changes on the team leaderboard has been wild, with Meronk rolling in a birdie on 11 to go move within one of Carlos Ortiz.
The birdie means the Cleeks GC catapult Smash GC and Crushers GC into a tie for second place with Ripper GC, but as mentioned, Cam Smith looks set to drop a shot on 18.
THE CLEEKS CLAIM THE TEAM LEAD!
Knocking on the door in the team competition 🙌#LIVGolf #CleeksGC pic.twitter.com/DNCBhaprkqJune 9, 2024
Martin Kaymer stitches one on the Par 3 16th, while Richard Bland birdies the 18th, and out of nowhere Cleeks GC have the lead!
They now have a 51% win probability, with Fireballs GC on 37%.
MERONK TIES THE LEAD WITH BIRDIE ON 12, PUIG MAKES COSTLY BOGEY
After driving the green and leaving himself a 15ft putt for eagle, Meronk has to settle for birdie but in turn ties the solo leader Ortiz at -14. The Cleeks now have a three-shot lead on the team leaderboard!
That was partly due to a sloppy bogey from Puig on the same hole. His tee-shot on the drivable par-4 went miles left into a tricky lie. Puig would then duff his chip before chipping onto the green and miss a 12ft putt for par.
ICYMI: KAYMER'S TEE SHOT TO CATAPULT THE CLEEKS INTO THE LEAD
After bogeying his second hole of the day and doubling his third, Cleeks captain Martin Kaymer is helping his side rise to the top of the team leaderboard!
MERONK AND ORTIZ BIRDIE 13, REACH -15!
What an hour it's been for the Cleeks! A team effort helped them rise to first place on the team leaderboard, while Meronk has just rolled in another birdie on 13 - his third in a row.
Ortiz also made a comfortable birdie on the par-5 13th, so the two are locked at the top on -15, while the Cleeks hold a six shot lead!
CLEEKS HEADING FOR THEIR FIRST EVER TEAM VICTORY?
What a shot from @MKaymer59 🔥He makes birdie and @Cleeks_GC take a 6 shot lead 📈#LIVGolf pic.twitter.com/lk0qCLhdC2June 9, 2024
Wow, what a shot by Kaymer on 18. After finding the bunker off the tee, Kaymer hits a beauty from the sand with a mid-iron to around 6ft. If he rolls that in, the lead will move to six shots with as many holes to play. They came into the day trailing the Fireballs by five...
As for the leaders, both Ortiz and Meronk secure pars on 14, albeit Ortiz had a decent look at birdie from 15ft or so.
MERONK IN TROUBLE ON 15?
While Ortiz safely finds the fairway on 15, Meronk misses left. There's a water hazard down there, but we cannot see yet if he's found himself in the penalty area...
MERONK FINDS THE HAZARD, TAKES PENALTY DROP
Meronk did indeed find the penalty area on 15. He's had to take a drop out sideways and will be playing his third shot from there. Advantage Ortiz...
MERONK NOW STRUGGLING FOR PAR
Meronk hits his third back onto the fairway, but with wedge in hand from 120 yards he can only put his forth shot to around 15ft.
Ortiz is in the greenside bunker in two shots, meaning an up-and-down could lead to a two-shot swing at the top.
MERONK BOGEYS, ORTIZ BIRDIES 15, LEADS BY TWO AS CLEEKS STUMBLE
The two shot swing is confirmed. Ortiz hits a gorgeous bunker shot to inside a foot while Meronk's par putt slides harmlessly by.
The Pole falls to -14, while the Mexican climbs to -16!
Meanwhile, in addition to Meronk's bogey, Kaymer delivers his own with a three-putt on the 1st. The Cleeks lead falls to just two over Smash GC...
ORTIZ ALMOST HOLES HUGE BIRDIE PUTT ON 16, BLAND BIRDIES 11 FOR THE CLEEKS
So, so close. Ortiz almost holes a birdie putt from 40ft on 16, while Richard Bland birdies the 11th to push the Cleeks closer to team victory.
Meronk had a birdie look on 16 from 25ft, but it never had a chance. Ortiz remains two ahead.
ORTIZ SAFELY ON THE GREEN AT 17, MERONK MISSES LONG
A big mistake by Meronk sees him fly an approach shot in low from around 170 on the 17th fairway, but his effort trickles over the back of the green into the bermuda grass.
In response, Ortiz sticks his approach into the heart of the green. Puig also finds the dance floor, leaving himself a putt of around 18ft which has to drop for the Fireballs to have any chance of catching the Cleeks on the team leaderboard. They're currently two back...
MCDOWELL MISSES BIRDIE PUTT ON THE 1ST, SMASH GC'S RACE IS RUN
Finishing on the 1st, Graeme McDowell misses a 15ft putt for birdie. Barring a catastrophic collapse from Meronk, Smash GC will likely be too far back at -21.
BOTH ORTIZ AND MERONK PAR, ORTIZ HOLDS TWO SHOT LEAD WITH ONE TO PLAY
Another fantastic lag putt from Ortiz leaves him around 3ft for par, which he hammers into the back of the hole to remain at -16. He'll have a two stroke lead going up 18.
Meronk had a dreadful lie over the back of the green and played a wonderful chip to just outside gimmie-range. He taps in for par as the Cleeks close in on their first ever team title.
ORTIZ FINDS THE ROUGH, MERONK THE FAIRWAY BUNKER ON 18
With water the entire way up the left side of the finishing hole, both Ortiz and Meronk play very anti-water teeshots, with both missing the fairway right. Ortiz goes so far right he misses the bunker right of the fairway, while Meronk lands in said bunker.
The remaining members of Cleeks GC, Kaymer, Samooja and Bland are watching close by as they hope to celebrate their first team victory in a few moments time.
ORTIZ MISSES LONG, MERONK FINDS THE GREEN ON 18
It's not over yet here in Houston...
Ortiz catches a flyer from the right rough and airmails the green. His ball comes to rest up against the grandstand and will receive a free drop.
Meanwhile, Meronk sticks his approach from the right fairway bunker to around 25ft. Realistically, he has to hole it to have a chance of catching Ortiz, but it all but secures Cleeks GC's first ever team win!
ORTIZ CHIPS TO 3 FEET
Clutch from Ortiz, who takes his drop before playing a perfect chip which trundles down towards the flag.
He'll have at least one short putt for the win.
MERONK MISSES HIS BIRDIE PUTT, WILL FINISH AT -14
Meronk pulls his birdie putt to the left, and that should be that.
Bittersweet for the Pole, who falls just short for the individual title but will celebrate with his Cleeks GC teammates this evening after their team victory!
CARLOS ORTIZ WINS LIV HOUSTON
He missed the short par putt, but he had two for it!
After posting a 67 on Sunday, Carlos Ortiz is the champions at LIV Houston!
CLEEKS SECURE FIRST EVER TEAM VICTORY
It's official! The Europeans get it done as Cleeks secure the win!
Kaymer, Bland, Meronk and Samooja shoot a combined -12 on Sunday to win by two ahead of Smash GC and Fireballs GC!
