Catlin wins playoff, will play for Iron Heads in Singapore

SINGAPORE – During a 2024 season in which he won the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit and became its first golfer to shoot 59, John Catlin also made six starts as a LIV Golf reserve player. He enjoyed a champagne celebration as part of the winning Smash GC team in Greenbrier and even competed in the Team Championship in Dallas as the replacement for the league’s best player, Legion XIII Captain Jon Rahm, who withdrew due to illness.

Thus, Catlin has seen up-close some of the innovative approaches that LIV Golf is taking both inside and outside the ropes. But even he wasn’t prepared for the latest variation Tuesday – the four onsite reserves competing in an 18-hole qualifying playoff with a step-ladder elimination process, with the winner earning a starting spot in this week’s LIV Golf Singapore presented by Aramco.

“They’re kind of trying to shake things up – and this definitely shook us up,” Catlin said. “We weren’t ready for it. It’s a cool concept and, hey, I obviously liked it.”

Indeed, he did.

Catlin shot a 4-under 67 on Tuesday morning at Sentosa’s Serapong course to outdistance Wade Ormsby (3-over 74), Ollie Schniederjans (eliminated after 12 holes) and Kalle Samooja (eliminated after six holes) to become LIV Golf’s first-ever tournament “qualifier.”

He’ll now join Kevin Na’s Iron Heads GC as this week’s replacement for injured member Jinichiro Kozuma.

In previous instances when a full-time player is forced to withdraw, a LIV Golf team would simply select one of the reserve players for that week. That’s how Catlin made four starts for Crushers GC last year (filling in for Charles Howell III), one start for Smash (filling in for Graeme McDowell) and then the Team Championship start for Legion XIII.

It's also how Na filled Kozuma’s vacancy in the first three tournaments this season, tabbing Wade Ormsby for the first two events in Riyadh and Adelaide, and then Schniederjans last week in Hong Kong.

But with Kozuma’s status uncertain moving forward, the team and league agreed to try a different approach with the roster vacancy in Singapore.

Competing in stroke play with no score reset, the player with the highest score after six holes was eliminated first. The next elimination then came after 12 holes, leaving the final two players to battle for the full 18.

As it turned out, dramatic twists took place on each of the first two elimination holes.

Entering the par-4 sixth, Schniederjans was one stroke behind the other three competitors after a rollercoaster start that included three bogeys and a birdie. But he was given a reprieve when he made par while Samooja suffered a double bogey. That eliminated the former Cleeks GC member at 3 over, one stroke worse than Schniederjans.

“Didn’t really sleep much last night,” said Samooja, who had flown in the day before from Finland. “Didn’t really drive it well today. Had a little jet leg. But it was a nice chance. This was a very good idea by the Iron Heads.”

On the next hole, the par-5 seventh, Schniederjans birdied while Ormsby suffered a double bogey, leaving the Aussie veteran outside the bubble. Although he birdied the 11th, Ormsby was still a stroke behind Schniederjans going into the par-4 12th.

Just like before, the script flipped on a double bogey, this time by Schniederjans, who was eliminated at 3 over. That left Ormsby (2 over) six holes to catch Catlin (2 under).

The steady Catlin wasn’t going to be caught, eliminating any doubt when he chipped in for birdie at the par-4 15th to raise his advantage to five strokes. He finished with a flourish on the final hole, knocking his approach to within a foot for his fifth birdie of the day.

“You're just trying to stay steady,” Catlin said. “This isn't a golf course where you're very often going to go out and shoot 63. This is a challenging golf course, especially on that back nine; there are some really strong par 4s. It's a course that rewards steady play in hitting consistently good golf shots.”

Ormsby ended his round with a bogey but nonetheless appreciated the format twist.

“It was a great opportunity,” he said. “Completely different format from what we’re used to. It was intense out there. Guys were trying to play for that one spot.”

Added Catlin: “I always love it when there's a chance where you can earn your spot. Because then, nobody can take it away from you. So, I loved having the chance. … I was ready to play. I knew I had to go out and play good golf from the start.”

Catlin led The International Series points standings for most of 2024 and appeared to be headed for the full-time LIV Golf spot that goes to the season-long champion. But his form didn’t hold down the stretch, leaving him as a reserve player for a second season.

He’s determined to maintain an aggressive mindset this season and never let up. On Tuesday, he took the lead on the third hole with a par while the other three players bogeyed, and then steadily built on his advantage the rest of the round.

“I didn't quite get it done in a couple of the International Series,” he said. “Unfortunately, it ended up costing me a LIV spot, so I’m not going to let that happen again. I’m going to step on people’s necks, basically. You know what I mean? I’ve got to get this done; it’s just that simple.”

On Tuesday, he got it done – and now he gets a shot at more glory this weekend with the Iron Heads. Catlin has known Na for many years; they played together at the 2018 Korea Open, both tying for fifth. After the playoff, Na walked onto the 18th green to congratulate Catlin and welcome him to this team for this week.

“He's a great guy,” Catlin said of Na. “Works hard at it, similar mindset. So, being a part of his team and being a part of Iron Heads GC is a great opportunity, and I hope I can lift the team to new heights.”