Catlin charges but falls in playoff at The International Series’ Black Mountain Championship

LIV Golf reserve player John Catlin once again put himself in contention for victory but fell short this time to Michael Maguire in a playoff at The International Series' Black Mountain Championship on the Asian Tour.

Catlin – who filled in for Crushers GC, Smash GC, and Legion XIII during the 2024 LIV Golf League season – remained as the leader of the Asian Tour Order of Merit and The International Series Rankings after his second-place finish in Thailand.

The Black Mountain Championship was the first tournament of the six-event sprint to The International Series season finish, with all eyes on a coveted spot on the LIV Golf League in 2025 at season's end.

Maguire, who is from the United States, denied Catlin a third victory of the year after winning the US$2million event, following a dramatic sudden-death playoff in heavy rain on the par-5 18th in Hua Hin, Thailand.

Some familiar LIV Golf League names also competed in the event, including Kieran Vincent (T14), Scott Vincent (T20), Jinichiro Kozuma (T28) and Peter Uihlein (T44).

Maguire, in just his second season on the Asian Tour and without a win in the professional game, made par on the second playoff hole to take the title after Catlin missed his 15-footer for par.

Both players made birdie on the first playoff hole, where Catlin, with a short birdie putt, appeared to have won before his opponent holed a 20-footer for a four from the fringe.

Both players had finished 72 holes tied at 23-under after Maguire shot a 7-under-par 65 and Catlin carded a 66 – in The International Series’ fifth event of the season, and the 15th leg of the Asian Tour.

Indian Gaganjeet Bhullar, joint leader at the start of the day with Catlin and paired in the final group with him and Maguire, closed with a 72 and finished four short of the play-off.

Chinese-Taipei’s Max Lee Chieh-po agonisingly missed the playoff by one, with his 65 leaving him solo third.

New Zealand’s Ben Campbell (64), Suteepat Prateeptienchai (66) from Thailand, and Italian Stefano Mazzoli (66), finished in a tie for fourth, another two strokes back.

“Big weight off my shoulders," Maguire said of his victory. "You know, [I've] kind of been close, you know, kind of a journeyman, played on every tour you can think of and finally to get a win on a big, big tour like this is huge.”

Maguire was one behind Catlin playing the last, with the former, so often unbeatable in this position, the hot favorite to win.

Maguire found the front bunker in two while Catlin faced a 12-footer for birdie. However, in a surprise turn of events Maguire nearly holed his bunker shot for an eagle leaving him a straightforward birdie putt, while Catlin missed his putt for the victory to send the event into overtime.

Maguire, 31, made it through the Asian Tour Qualifying School at the beginning of last year, in fourth place, and kept his card after finishing 56th on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.

That season was helped in a big way by tying for fourth in the International Series Vietnam, which had been his best finish on the Asian Tour before today’s epiphany.

“It was a fun battle down the back,” Maguire said. “We were kind of back and forth. I think I tied him on the seventh hole, sixth hole, and then we had a two-shot swing on nine. It was kind of big, but I knew two shots is nothing out here on this course, especially with the finish, you know, having a couple holes we could reach, by getting close to the green with drivers. So, it was just staying close and just kind of being patient was kind of my biggest thing, and then having to roll in a few nice ones.”

Catlin was attempting to win three titles in a season for the second time in his career. He achieved the feat in 2018, and it looked like the hat trick was well within his grasp throughout today.

“I mean, I gave it everything I had, I went bogey-free,” said Catlin, who won the International Series Macau Presented by Wynn, in a playoff, and the Saudi Open Presented by PIF, back-to-back earlier this year. “I thought I had it in the first playoff hole, and I thought I had it in regulation, and he just hit an amazing bunker shot and then holed about a 20-footer to extend the playoff.”

He also lost the International Series Morocco in extra holes this year after Campbell stormed through at the end, holing a succession of stunning putts.

“I mean it kind of feels like Morocco, like I really didn’t do that much wrong, and here I am standing on the wrong side of it, so it is what it is," Catlin said. “I kind of kept telling myself I was like, 'Michael’s kind of pushing me,' like I could feel that. Like he kept holing good putts and hitting good shots in there, and I kind of used that. I was like 'okay, he’s gonna push me on, I gotta keep staying strong.'”

The result means he extends his lead on both the Asian Tour Order of Merit and The International Series Rankings ahead of next week’s International Series Thailand at Thai Country Club in Bangkok.

(Photo courtesy of Vachira Kalong/Asian Tour)