In an exhilarating conclusion to the 2024 LIV Golf season, Ripper GC clinched the $50 million Team Championship at Maridoe Golf Club in Dallas, Texas. The Australian team, comprising Cam Smith, Matt Jones, Lucas Herbert, and Marc Leishman, posted an outstanding cumulative score of 277 on the final day. Their remarkable performance not only secured the championship but also earned them a $14 million prize, as they outshone other Tier One teams to claim the coveted title. It was a fitting end to a fiercely competitive season, with Ripper GC stepping up when it mattered most.
Ripper GC had a stellar season, finishing as the third seed this week, with two home wins in Adelaide and Singapore, and two second and one third-place finishes, totaling five podium appearances. On Friday, they had a bye, and in the Saturday semifinals, they defeated Fireballs GC 2-1 to advance to Final Day as one of the four Tier 1 teams vying for the LIV Golf Team victory. With all four scores counting: Smith shot 68, Herbert 69, Jones 70, and Leishman 70, resulting in an 11 under-par score that won by three strokes over two teams tied for second place, 4ACES GC led by Dustin Johnson and Iron Heads GC led by Kevin Na, who were the surprise team of the week.
Captain Smith remarked after the round: “Watching the leaderboard today was quite nerve-wracking. I almost wanted to look away, but I couldn’t. I was so engrossed with what we had to do.” Despite the team suffering two double bogeys, they also managed 21 birdies, the highest among the top contenders. “At no point today did I feel like we were under pressure or had to do anything extraordinary. I think there was a genuine belief within the team that these guys would perform their best,” Smith concluded.
Dubai-based player Anirban Lahiri (Crushers GC) shot a final round 69, aiding his team to a tied seventh-place finish. Meanwhile, fellow Dubai resident Adrian Meronk (Cleeks GC) shot a 76 in the final round, with his team finishing 11th out of 13 teams.
The next event for LIV Golf will be the 2024 LIV Golf Promotions, where the top three players will earn cards for LIV Golf 2025. Last year, Kalle Samooja (Finland), Jinichiro Kozuma (Japan), and Kieran Vincent (Zimbabwe) qualified at Abu Dhabi Golf Club. The 2024 qualifier will take place at Riyadh Golf Club from December 12th to 14th, 2024. The 2025 LIV Golf season will commence at Riyadh Golf Club, Saudi Arabia, from February 6th to 8th, 2025.