RD. 3 NEWS AND NOTES: BURMESTER'S MASTERS THOUGHTS
MIAMI - Stinger GC's Dean Burmester won the individual title at LIV Golf Miami, defeating Fireballs GC Captain Sergio Garcia in a playoff. Legion XIII won the team title for its second trophy of the 2024 season. Here are some news and notes from the final round at the Blue Monster.
RELATED: BURMESTER DEFEATS GARCIA IN PLAYOFF; RAHM’S LEGION XIII WINS TEAM TITLE
BURMESTER’S MASTERS THOUGHTS: With three wins in his last nine worldwide starts, including his first LIV Golf title and two DP World Tour events, Stinger GC’s Dean Burmester is one of golf’s hottest golfers. But the only major he’s qualified to play this year is the Open Championship, thanks to his win in November at the Joburg Open.
That means he’s not going to be in the field at the year’s first major, the Masters.
“I want to be in the field, obviously,” the South African said. “I feel like I’ve played some really great golf over the last five, six months. The two wins back home in South Africa before Christmas were special, two tournaments I’ve wanted to win for a long time. To win the South African Open, which is the second oldest tournament in the world, is a privilege. I thought I held myself really well there, and to come here on a golf course like this that’s major worthy and to beat major champions, I’m happy to have done that.
“Do I want to be at Augusta? Yeah, I’ve never been there before. So yeah, I want to be there.”
SERGIO ON HIS PLAYOFF LOSSES: There have been nine playoffs in LIV Golf history, and Fireballs GC Captain Sergio Garcia has participated in three of them. He’s still looking for his first win, having lost to Talor Gooch in Singapore last year, Joaquin Niemann in Mayakoba earlier this year and now Dean Burmester on the Blue Monster.
“It’s not the playoffs,” Garcia said. “I’m doing it myself. Obviously, a couple of shots here and there. But it’s what it is. You’ve got to keep giving yourself chances and wait for it to happen.”
CADDIE ISSUES FOR LEGION XIII: Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton both needed to use replacement caddies on Sunday. Rahm’s caddie became sick. Hatton’s caddie injured his shoulder and will be out a month.
“My caddie fell over last night after dinner,” Hatton said. “Now, his reputation is an interesting one, so I don’t know how the fall really occurred. But either way, he landed on his shoulder.”
BURMESTER’S NEW FRIENDS: Dean Burmester had a large group of South African supporters cheering for him this weekend. They even serenaded him during his final round. After winning Sunday, he went over to them and celebrated.
He had never met any of them until Saturday.
“Yesterday was the first day I met any of them,” he said. “They all work on the yachts and they’re here for a conference. … They came out yesterday and screamed for me pretty much the whole day. … Super-proud to have done it in front of them and in front of my friends and family.”
ANOTHER PODIUM FOR WOLFF: Having been acquired by RangeGoats GC via an offseason trade, Matthew Wolff continues to prove that his value to his new captain Bubba Watson.
Wolff finished solo third at 10 under after a 3-under 69 in Sunday’s final round. It was his third sub-70 round of the week; winner Dean Burmester was the only other player to post all three rounds in the 60s. In addition, Wolff led the field in driving distance average for the week, while ranking T1 (with Watson) in most fairways hit.
“It was a great week overall,” said Wolff, who finished one stroke out of the playoff. “I’m extremely happy with the week. … My ball-striking was great.”
Wolff finished fourth in Las Vegas, giving him two top-5s in four starts with his new team (he missed Jeddah with an illness). He made an adjustment with his putting, and no longer uses a line to help his aim. Instead, he is focusing on feel putting. Although he burned plenty of edges Sunday, he likes the direction his game is going.
“I’m giving it my all,” he said. “I think soon enough these putts are going to drop and I’m going to be hoisting a trophy.”
FIRST TO THREE FOR STINGERS: With Dean Burmester’s win at Doral, Stinger GC becomes the first team to celebrate wins by three different individuals. Charl Schwartzel (London) and Branden Grace (Portland) won LIV Golf’s first two events during the inaugural 2022 season.
ROUND 3 STATS LEADERS
Driving accuracy: Matt Wolff, Graeme McDowell, 78.57% (11 of 14 fairways hit)
Driving distance: Jon Rahm, 346.9 yards avg.
Longest drive: Kieran Vincent, 376.0 yards, 1st hole
Greens in regulation: Carlos Ortiz, 94.44% (17 of 18 greens)
Scrambling: Thomas Pieters (5 of 5), Carlos Ortiz (1 of 1), 100%
Putting: Louis Oosthuizen, 1.33 putts per hole
Bogey-free rounds: Carlos Ortiz (68)