Last Look: Maaden LIV Golf Virginia notes, stats, superlatives, more

STERLING, Va. — Lucas Herbert arrived at Trump National Washington D.C. this week sick, having practiced just nine holes and never having seen the front nine of the course. He left with his first LIV Golf individual title, a spot in next month's U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, and one of the most dominant wire-to-wire performances in league history.

Herbert led from the opening round, shooting 64-63-68-69 to finish at 24-under par, holding off Fireballs GC Captain Sergio Garcia by four shots in a week that tested every part of his game.

In the team competition, the 4Aces GC claimed the title in a dramatic playoff over Fireballs GC, with Thomas Detry and Anthony Kim both making par while David Puig made a bogey (Ballester made par) to secure the victory after both teams finished the week tied at 49 under.

Here is a last look at some of the notable performances from Maaden LIV Golf Virginia.

Round of the Week

Josele Ballester produced the round of the tournament — and one of the most remarkable rounds in LIV Golf history — with a 12-under 60 in Rd. 3 at Trump National Washington D.C. The young Spaniard made 10 birdies and an eagle, set the course record at the venue and tied for the lowest score relative to par in LIV Golf history. It was the lowest score Ballester has ever shot in his life, and the first course record he has ever claimed anywhere.

"I don't think it gets better than that for sure," Ballester said. "It's been a fantastic day of golf."

Clutch Performance

Lucas Herbert's final round on Sunday was not his most pristine, but it was his most important. Playing with a substantial lead to start the round, Herbert navigated a nervy stretch around the ninth and 10th holes that briefly tightened the contest before steadying himself after a rain delay and closing out in style. "I had Sergio coming at me for 36 holes really hard, and he pushed me the whole way, made me earn that one," Herbert said. "I didn't doubt myself. After the rain delay, the way I played those eight shots, I'm so proud of that."

Under the Radar Performers

Anthony Kim: Somewhat lost in the drama of Herbert's wire-to-wire victory and Ballester's historic 60 was one of the most stunning rounds of the entire week. Kim closed with a 10-under 62 on Sunday — the low round of the day — to finish T6 at 16 under. It was by far his best finish since his stunning comeback victory at LIV Golf Adelaide earlier this season and could not have come at a more crucial moment. Kim's 62 was the catalyst that got the 4Aces GC into a team playoff and ultimately delivered them the victory.

Dean Burmester: Burmester was one of the week's most consistent performers, posting four straight rounds in the 60s or better to finish fourth at 18 under. The Southern Guards GC star ranked among the field leaders in approach play all week and quietly delivered one of his best individual performances of the 2026 season.

Scott Vincent: Vincent put together one of the most quietly impressive weeks of any player in the field. The HyFlyers GC veteran posted rounds of 72-69-62-70 to finish T8 at 15 under, with his Rd. 3 62 serving as the catalyst. Vincent made two eagles in that round and led the field in putting, averaging just 1.22 putts per hole — the best putting performance of his LIV Golf career. For a team missing captain Phil Mickelson, Vincent has been a consistent bright spot all season.

Statistical Standouts

Lucas Herbert: Herbert was the most dominant statistical performer of the week, leading the field in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee (+4.63) and Strokes Gained: Off the Tee on Par 3s (+3.73). He ranked fifth in total Strokes Gained: Approach (+5.19) and seventh in Strokes Gained: Putting (+4.08), making him the most complete performer in the field.

Bryson DeChambeau: DeChambeau led the field in total Strokes Gained: Approach (+6.91) for the week, ranking first in that category despite his wrist concerns entering the tournament. He also ranked second in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee on Par 3s (+2.85), confirming his iron play was at an elite level throughout the week.

Sergio Garcia: Garcia led the field in Strokes Gained: Putting (+7.16) for the week while also ranking fifth in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee (+3.03). His driver and putter were both elite all week. That combination fueled his solo second-place finish and the best individual performance of his 2026 LIV Golf season.

Josele Ballester: Ballester ranked second in the field in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee (+3.48) for the week, continuing to establish himself as one of the most dangerous drivers in professional golf. His combination of elite length off the tee and the historic 60 in Rd. 3 made him the most talked-about player of the week not named Lucas Herbert.

Veteran Resurgence

Sergio Garcia: At 46 years old, Garcia delivered arguably the finest individual performance of his 2026 LIV Golf season, finishing solo second at 20 under. He ranked second in the field in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee and third in putting over the course of the week, crediting a new driver he found the week prior as the catalyst for his improved form off the tee. Garcia pulled within one shot of Herbert during the final round before ultimately running out of steam on the back nine. "I was giving everything that I had," he said. "I'm proud of the way I hung in there." He had one final chance to win outright on the 18th green, but his putt broke more than he anticipated. "I hit a good putt. I thought it had a chance, but it just broke a lot more than I thought."

Young Gun Spotlight

Josele Ballester: Ballester's week in Virginia was another step forward in his career, where the sky is the limit. The 22-year-old Spaniard, who turns 23 in August, followed up a third-place finish at LIV Golf Mexico City and a T3 at the Singapore Open with a fifth-place finish that included the most spectacular single round of the 2026 LIV Golf season. His 60 in Rd. 3 set the course record at Trump National Washington D.C. He also stepped up in the team playoff, making par before David Puig's bogey ended Fireballs GC's hopes. Ballester was characteristically grounded afterward. "It's been less than a year that I've been a pro, and I look back and I'm happy with the progress I've made so far." The majors are coming. It is only a matter of time.

Biggest Movers

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

Sergio Garcia: 19 spots from 31st to 12th.

Lucas Herbert: 16 spots from 19th to 3rd.

Scott Vincent: 4 spots from 13th to 9th.

Who's Trending?

Bryson DeChambeau: DeChambeau closed with a 6-under 66 to finish third at 19-under, confirming that his wrist is no longer a concern. After withdrawing from the final round of LIV Golf Mexico City with the injury, he has now posted back-to-back strong results and enters the PGA Championship at Aronimink with genuine momentum.

David Puig: Puig closed with a 7-under 65 to finish T12 at 13 under — a solid result on the back of his runner-up finish in Mexico City. The Spaniard heads into next week's PGA Championship at Aronimink with growing confidence despite some driver struggles this week. "The driver has been a weapon the last year or two years," he said. "If I can find something with the driver and go a touch more straight, then I'll be feeling very good."

Scott Vincent: Scott Vincent continued his strong 2026 form with a sensational 10-under 62 in Round 3 — one of the rounds of the tournament — which included two eagles in a five-hole stretch and eight birdies. He finished T8 and has been a bright spot for the HyFlyers who are without their captain, Phil Mickelson.

Quotes of the Week

Lucas Herbert on what he learned about himself this week: "Probably that I can perform pretty damn well when things aren't perfect. I was pretty sick all week, and I woke up this morning probably feeling worse than I did the last few days."

Lucas Herbert on caddie Nick Pugh: "We just had such a laugh out there. We said walking to the 1st tee, we're going to have fun regardless. He's amazing. There's not a good enough word I can speak about him. He deserves it as much as I do."

Lucas Herbert on earning the U.S. Open exemption: "My first major ever was at Shinnecock. Nice to go back and see what I've learned since then. Can't wait to get there and try to play like I did this week."

Sergio Garcia on fighting to stay close to Herbert on Sunday: "I was fighting hard. Obviously Lucas was playing well. I was giving everything that I had. Unfortunately, I wasn't as sharp today. I'm proud of the way I hung in there. Just a little disappointed that I didn't make that putt on the last to win it outright. We gave it a great chance, so that's all I can ask for."

Josele Ballester on the team playoff: "It was pretty cool.Happy to share it with my good friend David. I wish it would have ended a different way for us, but happy with the way we fought the last few holes. We gave ourselves a chance and didn't get the team victory."

Josele Ballester on watching David Puig head to the PGA Championship: "I just feel like I fell a little short. I feel like maybe if it would have been a week after with this good finish, maybe I could have put myself closer to the top 100 in the world and maybe get that invite. But pretty happy. It's been less than a year that I've been a pro, and I look back and I'm happy with the progress I've made so far."

David Puig on the team playoff: "It hurts. It hurts to be the only one with a bogey and just letting your team down a little bit. I had a good week. So I guess it's okay."

David Puig on his game heading into the PGA Championship: "The driver has been a weapon the last year or two years, and I feel that, when I hit fairways, then I'm at my best obviously. If I can find something with the driver and go a touch more straight, then I'll be feeling very good."