Harold Varner III won his first LIV Golf Invitational event after beating Branden Grace by a shot at the Trump National course in Virginia.
Varner, who ended 12-under for the 54-hole tournament, made a birdie at his final hole, the par-5 18th, to avoid a play-off after Grace had also birdied his final hole, the par-4 second.
The win was Varner’s first as a professional on American soil, with the South Carolina’s player’s previous victories coming at the Australian PGA in 2016 and the Asian Tour’s PIF Saudi International last February.
Varner shot a four-under 68 in his final round after setting the early pace with an eight-under 64 on Friday. Grace had put himself in contention with a bogey-free 66, including two birdies on the final three holes, but Varner kept his cool, producing several clutch moments during the final round, none bigger than his hole-out from the bunker for birdie at the par-4 11th to take the lead. His tee shot at the par-3 15th set up another birdie to give him a two-stroke lead.
Grace, who lost in a playoff to Dustin Johnson two weeks ago in Tulsa, birdied two of his last three holes, including his final hole, to tie Varner at 11 under. At the time, Varner was about to play his second shot at the 18th. His 6-iron from 197 yards landed on the front edge of the green and settled 40 feet from the pin, setting up his two-putt birdie for the win.
“I knew exactly what I had to do, when I had to do it, and how I have to do it,” Varner said. “I love that. That’s why you play, that moment.”
Varner, who picked up $4m for the individual win, did not get to enjoy a champagne celebration with his team, though. The Spanish-speaking Torque GC won for the second time this season, shooting a final-round counting score of 9 under to finish at 27 under, beating the all-South African Stinger GC by three shots, with Varner’s RangeGoats team taking third.
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