Last Look: LIV Golf South Africa notes, stats, superlatives and more

JOHANNESBURG– In front of a sold-out South African crowd, Crushers GC Captain Bryson DeChambeau defeated Jon Rahm on the first playoff hole at Steyn City, earning the 5th individual LIV Golf victory of his career. 

After pulling his drive into the muddy left rough and taking relief from temporary water, DeChambeau produced a moment of pure brilliance — ripping a fairway wood that flew hole-high and settled just 12 feet from the cup for eagle.

In the team competition, Southern Guards GC couldn’t convert a nine-shot front-nine lead into a win on home soil, as DeChambeau’s Crushers outlasted them by one stroke to earn their ninth regular season title all-time, the most in LIV Golf history.

Here is a last look at some of the notable performances from LIV Golf South Africa. 

ROUND OF THE WEEK 

DeChambeau’s opening round 8-under 63 set the tone for the week and perhaps more importantly, set the foundation for the passionate South African crowd to rally behind the Crushers GC captain. DeChambeau made nine birdies and one bogey, grabbing a share of the first-round lead alongside his teammate, Charles Howell III in the process.

After the round, DeChambeau spent time signing autographs for the crowd, cementing his place as South Africa’s adopted son.

CLUTCH PERFORMANCE 

Anirban Lahiri has had a very poor start to the season, with his best finish coming in the form of a T24 in Hong Kong. He finished 50th in Singapore and T51 in Adelaide.

Over the weekend at Steyn City, Lahiri delivered for his team when they needed it most. The Indian shot back-to-back 8-under 63s. On Sunday, his 63 was tied for the lowest round of the day. The Crushers would need every shot from Lahiri, as they escaped South Africa with a one-shot victory over the hometown favorite Southern Guards. 

"It's been a tough year," Lahiri said. "I've put a lot of work in and I haven't had anything to show for it, and I got comfortable yesterday after a long time.  I was just trying to do the same thing, keep it simple.  I was enjoying myself out there, enjoying the crowds, enjoying the event." 

UNDER THE RADAR PERFORMERS 

Southern Guards GC: Although they came up just short on the leaderboard, the Southern Guards will undoubtedly leave Steyn City as winners this week. The South African team finished runner-up despite a week full of obligations after hosting one of the most important tournaments in LIV Golf history.

Dean Burmester: The emotion and passion shown on the golf course throughout the week from Burmester serves as a microcosm of the importance of the game of the golf on a continent which embraced the Southern Guards and LIV Golf with open arms.

Burmester’s T6 finish was tied for his best of the season, but his ability to put on a show for the fans was even more impressive than his finish on the leaderboard.

Thomas Detry: According to projections, Detry needed a solo second-place finish to creep into the top 50 in the Official World Golf Rankings, earning a spot in next month’s Masters in the process. The 4Aces GC finished in a tie for third alongside Branden Grace and Abraham Ancer, falling just short of his goal. 

Detry’s final-round 6-under 65 was the best fourth round of his LIV Golf career. It marked his third top-10 finish in five events, and he has reached the podium in every LIV Golf start so far (individually or with the 4Aces).

STATISTICAL STANDOUTS 

Bryson DeChambeau: DeChambeau had his best Strokes Gained: Off the Tee performance of the season. He gained 5.77 strokes in the category, which led the field by almost a full stroke.

Branden Grace: Grace gained 8.13 strokes on approach for the week, which ranked 2nd in the field. It was the best Strokes Gained: Approach week in Grace’s LIV Golf career.

Thomas Detry: Detry led the field in putting for the second time in three weeks. He gained 6.39 strokes with the flatstick, which was over a stroke more than Cameron Smith, who gained 5.35. 

Jon Rahm: Rahm ranked 5th in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee (+3.78) and 3rd in Strokes Gained: Around the Green (+2.14). Last week in Singapore, he led the field in Strokes Gained: Approach. The Legion XIII captain has shown that all aspects of his game are rounding into form with the Masters quickly approaching.

VETERAN RESURGENCE 

Branden Grace: Although he came up just short of winning in his home country in LIV Golf’s first-ever tournament on the continent of Africa, Grace put forth a spectacular effort. The 37-year-old shot rounds of 64-66-64-67 to finish in a tie for 3rd, which was his best finish since LIV Golf DC in 2023.

YOUNG GUN SPOTLIGHT 

Michael La Sasso: After being his professional golf career with finishes of T41-T32-T55-55, La Sasso came from seemingly out of nowhere to finish T12 at Steyn City. Perhaps uncoincidentally, HyFlyers GC Captain Phil Mickelson returned to action this week. La Sasso was paired with Mickelson, who is 34 years his senior, in Saturday’s third round. Mickelson shot a 7-under 64 and LaSasso shot an 8-under 63, his lowest round since joining LIV Golf.

BIGGEST MOVERS 

Here are the players who’ve made the biggest move in the season long individual points race:  

Branden Grace: 11 spots from 21st to 10th.   

Charles Howell III: 10 spots from 38th to 28th. 

Anirban Lahiri: 7 spots from 47th to 40th.  

Michael La Sasso: 7 spots from 52nd to 45th 

WHO'S TRENDING 

Scott Vincent: Vincent fired rounds of 66-68-66-65 to finish in 11th place, which would have been the best-ever finish for a LIV Golf wild card prior to Richard T. Lee’s playoff loss last week in Singapore. Vincent has finished in the top 25 in four of his five starts this season.

Josele Ballester: Ballester finished T12 at Steyn City after finishing T6 in Singapore. The young Fireballs star appears to be hitting his stride and has shown the potential that should see him eventually turn into one of the best players in the game.

Fireballs GC: The Fireballs got off to a rough start to the season, finishing 12th, 8th and 8th in their last three starts leading into the week at South Africa. This week, they finished 4th on the team leaderboard, with all four of their players finishing in the top 25 individually. There is still room for improvement, but Sergio Garcia’s team is headed in the right direction.

QUOTES OF THE WEEK 

Bryson DeChambeau on LIV Golf South Africa:  

“I've just got to say I love everybody. Thank you for supporting. South Africa was unbelievable. I mean, got to be the best LIV event we've ever had.”   

Dean Burmester after the Southern Guards’ runner-up finish: 

"I had a phenomenal week, honestly. I could never have imagined a greater week for all four of us to be welcomed like this at home. It's the greatest feeling I think any of us will ever feel. Each of us got to tee off on this first tee here, and each of us walked off saying exactly the same thing: We couldn't feel anything. It was the greatest thing I've ever felt on the golf course. I'm just proud to be South African; that's it.” 

Phil Mickelson on his return to action: 

“It's just fun to be back playing. I really missed it. I'm glad I'm here. I wish I played better the first day, but I'm really having fun. It's just fun to be back playing.” 

Paul Casey on what it means to play in South Africa: 

“This is important for me. This has got a special place in my heart. To see this scene today -- actually just all week, the Southern Guards were amazing, Louis and those guys said, this is what we're going to do, and then they followed through, and thanks to everybody, the government and the country and the fans to make this what it was.” 

Louis Oosthuizen on bringing LIV Golf to South Africa:   

"Since LIV started it was always a goal of ours to bring it to South Africa, and to finally have it in front of the people, we just want to show our appreciation of them. Being here -- yesterday was phenomenal. Today was great. Each day was awesome. We just wanted to show a bit of appreciation and say thank you and see the guys next year.”  

Charles Howell III on playing for a team rather than himself: 

“First of all, I think it's one of the great things of LIV Golf that we do have a team. I don't know about the other guys; I feel more pressure playing for others than I do myself. Maybe that's whatever an issue with me, but I don't want to let them down.”