2024 Season in Review: Stinger GC

12th in a series of stories reviewing the 2024 season for each of the 13 LIV Golf League teams.

Previous reviews: 4Aces | Cleeks | Crushers | Fireballs | HyFlyers | Iron Heads | Legion XIII | Majesticks | RangeGoats | Ripper | Smash

STINGER GC QUICK REVIEW

TEAM

For the first time in a LIV Golf season, the South Africans did not win a team title, but they did produce four podium finishes – including in Adelaide when they made a spirited run on the final day to force LIV’s first-ever team playoff against the hometown Ripper GC. Had the lowest score of any team in the final round of the Team Championship but only finished fifth since they lost in the semifinals. Individually, there were some brilliant efforts, but unfortunately the whole was less than the sum of the Stinger parts in 2024.

PLAYERS (final points ranking)

Louis Oosthuizen (6): The captain produced his best season in LIV Golf, twice finishing as a runner-up and adding five more top-10 finishes. His final-round 60 in Greenbrier is the third lowest round in LIV history. But like his team, he was disappointed not to raise an individual trophy.

Dean Burmester (9): The only Stinger to celebrate atop a podium in 2024 after winning his first LIV title via playoff in Miami against Sergio Garcia. He had two other podium results during the first half of the season and could be set for an even-bigger 2025.

Charl Schwartzel (21): LIV Golf’s first-ever individual winner (2022 London) produced a nice bounce-back year after a frustrating 2023. Had two podium results in the first six events and was a key contributor that final day in Adelaide.

Branden Grace (51): Perhaps the most head-scratching year of any LIV Golf player this season, considering he finished 2nd in points in 2022 and 9th in 2023. Injuries were part of the issue as he never got untracked, producing top-24 points in just three starts. Shocking to see him relegated.

TEAM OVERVIEW

Wins: 0
Podiums: 4
Points Finishes: 7
Seed: 7th
Team Championship: 5th

COUNTING SCORES (league ranking)

Round 1: 92 under (5th)
Round 2: 81 under (10th)
Round 3: 69 under (T6)
Total: 242 under (7th)

HIGHLIGHTS

• Shot a record-tying 53 under in Adelaide to force first-ever LIV Golf team playoff

• In winning LIV Golf Miami via playoff, Burmester became third different Stinger player to win an individual trophy

• Oosthuizen finished a LIV Golf career-best runner-up in Adelaide and Jeddah

• Oosthuizen’s 10-under 60 in final round at Greenbrier is third lowest round in LIV Golf history

• Schwartzel’s T2 in Jeddah is his best LIV Golf finish since winning inaugural event in London in 2022

• Oosthuizen led all individual players in scrambling average

• Claimed top spot in Tier 2 (5th place) at Team Championship, shooting 15 under, the lowest counting score of any team in the final round

TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS

LEAGUE RANKINGS