Burmester claims LIV Golf Chicago in three-way playoff

Perth Now

11-08-2025

South Africa's Dean Burmester has overcome a rough start and then beaten Spaniards Jon Rahm and Josele Ballester on the first hole of a three-way playoff with a six-foot birdie putt to win LIV Golf Chicago.
Burmester lost a two-shot lead at the start of Sunday's final round with three straight bogeys but rallied late for an even-par 71 to finish on nine-under 204.
The South African birdied the 16th to regain the lead, only for Rahm (69) and Ballester (69) to birdie the 18th to force a playoff. On the 18th in the playoff, Ballester and Rahm both missed birdie chances from the 12-foot range.
"The moment after the emotion of trying to win a golf tournament, there's nothing sweeter than that," Burmester said.
He then opened up more about recent struggle.
"I've been going through a bit of a rough time, personal stuff, and I've just been grinding and trying to get better … After three bogeys in a row to start, I was like, fudge, I don't know where I'm going. The head was nowhere," he said.
"But I just kept at it, and Jason, my caddie, was just phenomenal. He was just like, we never give up. We're not going to give up. We've been through too much crap to give up."
Burmester won $US4 million for his second LIV Golf victory. He also won in Miami last year.
Marc Leishman was the leading Australian, tied for 13th at three under after a closing 70, with Lucas Herbert (73, one under) tied 25th, Cameron Smith (69, even) tied 29th and Matt Jones (75, five over) tied 49th.
There also was a team playoff, with Burmester's Stinger team including Louis Oosthuizen, Branden Grace and Charl Schwartzel beating Torque GC for the team title while the Ripper GC team comprising the four Australians were tied eighth.
Joaquin Niemann tied for 17th to remain ahead of Rahm in the individual points standings. Niemann has never finished in the top 10 in LIV Golf except for his seven victories.