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Irish Daily Mirror
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Graeme McDowell's comment after banking €1.6 million speaks volumes about him
Graeme McDowell was all class as he shared the runner-up spot at LIV Golf Virginia. McDowell chalked up his top result of the LIV season to date – landing second on Sunday, just behind winner Joaquin Niemann who secured his fourth 2025 victory. The Portrush native, alongside Anirban Lahiri, pocketed a tidy €1.6 million for their efforts at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club. Showing true sportsmanship, 45-year-old McDowell was quick to heap praise on his fellow competitors after the triumph. The event saw some of LIV's heavyweights, like Bubba Watson, Bryson DeChambeau, Phil Mickelson and Jon Rahm, making a mark, yet McDowell edged out this illustrious group to finish near the very top. "Nice to be up there with names like that," he remarked when asked about the calibre of players. "Those are pretty good names. I think it speaks to the golf course. "I think it speaks to the fact that it was a - it required a bit of thought. It required a little bit of cunning, if you like, and I think that's why so many experienced players played well. "I think it's a wonderful track. Obviously shout-out to the maintenance crew for the work they did to get the course ready after the rain. I really enjoyed the golf course. It was a great setup and the type of venue that LIV deserves here in the US." McDowell's heartfelt mention of the tireless maintenance workers and greens staff upon his latest performance speaks volumes about his character. Even though he didn't scoop the top €3.6m prize at the Virginia event, his stout finish and sizeable seven-figure earnings are just as sweet for the golfer who has often been missing from the winner's circle. Assessing his achievement on the leaderboard, prior to this high-pressure weekend in Virginia, McDowell was sharing 12th place as his pinnacle for 2025, measured during a tournament in Hong Kong. Sunday saw him notch his most impressive result within the LIV Golf circuit yet, nabbing second place just shy of victory, building on three top-10 placements accrued last year, reports Belfast Live. Nevertheless, his thoughts were immediately with those whose hard work made the event's smooth run possible – showing gratitude when most might be soaking up their own success. Meanwhile, Niemann's recent triumph in Virginia consolidates his standing as the reigning heavyweight of LIV Golf, forging ahead with a healthy lead above DeChambeau in the rankings. Next on the LIV Golf calendar is Dallas, returning as a familiar host from last year's Team Championship. McDowell currently sits in 25th place, just outside the 'Lock Zone'. The top 24 players in any LIV Golf campaign are guaranteed a spot in the following year's competition, though exceptions can be made for certain players. This was the case for McDowell after he finished both the 2023 and 2024 seasons in the 'Open Zone'. However, it seems he's well respected on the tour as Smash GC captain Brooks Koepka chose to keep him on board regardless.
NBC Sports
a day ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Joaquin Niemann wins again on LIV; Phil Mickelson T-4 after insane flop-shot hole-out
GAINESVILLE, Va. — Joaquin Niemann of Chile won LIV Golf Virginia on Sunday for his fourth victory in the Saudi-funded tour's first eight events of the season, closing with an 8-under 63 to beat Graeme McDowell and Anirban Lahiri by a stroke. Niemann broke out of a logjam at the top with birdies on Nos. 14-17 and parred the par-4 18th to finish at 15-under 198 at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club. The 26-year-old Niemann also won this year in Australia, Singapore and Mexico. He has six career LIV victories after winning twice on the PGA Tour. McDowell shot 66, and second-round leader Lahiri had a 68. Bryson DeChambeau, preparing for his U.S. Open title defense at Oakmont, had a 65 to tie for fourth with Phil Mickelson, who had an insane flop-shot hole-out for birdie on his way to a 65, and Bubba Watson (67) at 13 under. Phil Mickelson. Unbelievable. Jon Rahm was tied for eighth at 10 under after a 68. DeChambeau and Lahiri led the Crushers to the team title.
Irish Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Business
- Irish Daily Mirror
Graeme McDowell earns career best pay day after missing out on LIV win
Graeme McDowell rolled back the years to finish second at LIV Golf Virginia and earned a career-best pay day aged 45. McDowell was among the initial crop to depart the PGA Tour for LIV Golf and his decision is now paying dividends after his best finish since joining the Saudi backed tour. The former US Open Champion finished just one shot behind winner Joaquin Niemann in this weeks event where we will collect a cool $1,875,000 for his efforts. On top of that, McDowell is part of the Smash Golf Team alongside Talor Gooch, Jason Kokrak, and Brooks Koepka with the team finishing third to add a cool $125,000 to McDowell's earnings and bring him to a staggering $2m total. McDowell is no stranger to large payouts, scooping $1.45m at LIV Golf Las Vegas last weekend and earned over $1.3m when he won the the US Open in 2010. Fellow Northern Ireland golfer Tom McKibbin was also in the money despite a tied for 38th finish as he collected a not so shabby $136,500 while Bryson DeChambeau warmed up nicely for his US Open defence with a tied fourth finish.
The Star
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
DeChambeau is competing, preparing for Oakmont
BRYSON DeChambeau loves to practice and compete, but the US Open champion also appreciates the limited LIV Golf schedule that gives him time to pursue other interests. DeChambeau arrived at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club for LIV Golf Virginia this week after a characteristically busy few days that included a round of golf with President Donald Trump and some short-game practice on the South Lawn of the White House. The big-hitting YouTube star then turned his attention to the 54-hole LIV event that started Friday at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club. He said the thick rough and fast greens would help prepare him for Oakmont Golf Club in Wiscosin where the US Open will be played, starting on Thursday. He will try to win his third US Open after triumphs last year at Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina and in 2020 at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, New York. 'I think LIV afforded me the opportunity to spend more time thinking, strategising, getting my body healthy, ready for majors in a pretty unique way,' DeChambeau said. 'For me, it was a great thing. I thought there was an opportunity to do other things in life – do I want to win every single tournament I show up to? 100%.' The RTJ event is the eighth of 14 tournaments this year for the globetrotting, Saudi-funded LIV Golf League. Although PGA Tour players have more freedom to set their own schedules, they typically play more often. For top-ranked Scottie Scheffler, the US Open will be the fourth of five events in a seven-week stretch. DeChambeau hasn't competed since last month's PGA Championship, won by Scheffler. While DeChambeau was enjoying a friendly round with Trump Scheffler was finishing off his third win of the past month at the Memorial.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Bryson DeChambeau chips his way into tie for lead at LIV Golf Virginia
Bryson DeChambeau chipped in for an eagle and a birdie on his way to a 5-under-par 66, and he shares the first-round lead with Germany's Martin Kaymer at LIV Golf Virginia on Friday in Gainesville, Va. DeChambeau shot up the leaderboard after a brief weather delay, eagling the par-5 14th and birdieing each of the next two holes at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club. His chip at No. 14 was a soft placement next to a slope, and his ball rolled from right to left right into the cup. At the par-4 16th, he missed the green and chopped his third shot out of some thick rough, only to watch his ball head straight to the pin and disappear again. "Man, what's nice is coming out into some soft conditions," DeChambeau said. "That little chip shot became a hell of a lot easier for me. So I just chipped it out to the right exactly what I saw. I don't know if you saw, but I was studying it before I left. I was like this looks perfect, came out, still looks perfect, hit it exactly where I wanted it to land, and it went right in the frickin' hole." DeChambeau is tuning up to defend his title at the U.S. Open next week at Oakmont Country Club. He is one of several LIV members who either were invited by the USGA or qualified for the third major of the year the old-fashioned way. Marc Leishman of Australia tied for third at the qualifying site in nearby Rockville, Md., on Monday, grabbing one of four spots available there. Leishman turned around and shot a 67 on Friday. Leishman is tied for third with Phil Mickelson, who may play in his final U.S. Open next week; Jon Rahm of Spain, who will search for his third career major win; Joaquin Niemann of Chile, who received the USGA's first special invite based on LIV performance; Anirban Lahiri of India; and Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland. RangeGoats GC teammates Bubba Watson and Peter Uihlein are tied at 3 under with Patrick Reed and Belgium's Thomas Pieters, both of 4Aces. RangeGoats lead the team competition at 9 under par, two shots better than 4Aces and DeChambeau's team, Crushers GC. Field Level Media
