Lahiri finishes runner-up in his LIV debut in Boston
The difference between winning the US$4 million top cheque and the eventual US$ 1.8 million he made for a 2nd place tie turned out to be the cost of Lahiri’s missed 5 foot eagle putt on the final hole of regulation play.
Eventually three players, Dustin Johnson, Chile’s Joaquin Niemann and Lahiri went into a sudden death playoff at matching totals of 195, 15 under par, which DJ won with a 35 foot eagle putt on the first extra hole while Lahiri was lying for a birdie 3 feet away.
Cruel lip out for @anirbangolf
Eagle would’ve given him the outright lead, he’s now tied for the lead#LIVGolf #LIVGolfBoston pic.twitter.com/x8MciSmjlI
— LIV Golf (@LIVGolfInv) September 4, 2022
Had Lahiri made the 5 foot eagle putt on the 18th hole in the final round after a spectacular approach, he would have finished at 16 under for the 54 hole tournament and won the title outright and avoided the playoff completely. As it turned out, his eagle putt spun out from the back of the cup.
However, Lahiri’s LIV Golf debut is still a fabulous success, as he was part of the first playoff ever on the new LIV golf tour. On the 17th hole in the final round he hit a 215 yard approach to just 6 feet and after that spectacular approach on the 18th, eventually closed birdie – birdie for a 64.
Lahiri’s four member team led by captain Bryson de Chambeau also finished 2nd in the team event and Lahiri picked up another US$375,000 as his share of the US$1.5 million runner up team prize.
DJ EAGLE FOR THE WIN!!! #LIVGolf #LIVGolfBoston @DJohnsonPGA pic.twitter.com/O5CffhnVQ7
— LIV Golf (@LIVGolfInv) September 4, 2022
Johnson, who closed with a 5-under 65, needed a birdie on the par-5 18th. His drive bounced into the right rough, his iron to lay up went into the trees well to the left and he had to scramble for par to join Lahiri (64) and Niemann (66) at 15-under 265.
Lee Westwood created history with a final round of 8-under 62, the lowest in the LIV Golf’s past four editions. Even the playoff was the first ever for the rival tour.
British Open champion Cameron Smith, among six players who recently signed with the Saudi-funded league, had a final round 63. He also was tied for the lead until hitting his tee shot into the trees on No. 1, his 17th hole, and having to pitch out sideways. He made bogey.
Johnson had not won since the Saudi International on Feb. 7, 2021, when it was part of the European tour schedule. The player who has been No. 1 longer than anyone since Tiger Woods slipped out of the top 15 in the world when he signed with LIV Golf.
The next LIV Golf Invitational series will be played in two weeks in the Chicago suburbs at Rich Harvest Farms, best known for hosting the US v Europe Women’s Pro Team event, the Solheim Cup in 2009.
Credits:-
Photo – LIV Golf