Andalucia Recap: Solid finish by Rippers earns them a tie for fourth at Valderrama

SOTOGRANDE, Spain – Ripper GC buried memories of a slow start to the week with a solid finish to LIV Golf Andalucía where captain Cameron Smith saved his best for last on Sunday.

Smith led by example in the final round at Real Club Valderrama, closing with a 3-under 68 that lifted him into a tie for sixth on the individual leaderboard at 2-under - three strokes behind Fireballs GC's Sergio Garcia, who won the title in a playoff.

Lucas Herbert signed off with a 70, Marc Leishman returned a 71 and Matt Jones carded a 73 as the all-Australian Rippers moved up the team standings to finish joint fourth at 3-over.

All this after they had made an inauspicious start to the week as winds gusted up to 20 mph. Smith was their best performer in the opening round, mixing two birdies with a bogey and a double at the par-4 eighth to card a 1-over 72. Herbert battled to a 75 and Leishman dug out a 76 as the team ended day one in a tie for 10th.

Leishman then inspired a magnificent fightback on day two, sharing low round honors with Crusher GC's Anirban Lahiri after firing a superb six-birdie 66. With Leishman setting the tone and both Smith and Jones posting 71s, the Rippers collectively went 5-under for the day to climb into a share of sixth place in the team standings.

Smith's best round of the week on Sunday helped the Rippers finish with something of a flourish. The 30-year-old from Queensland offset four birdies with a solitary bogey to secure a personal top-10 finish, and he led the third round in scrambling while ranking joint second in putting.

Heading into the week, Smith knew full well how much patience can be a virtue at Valderrama, which places a premium on good ball-striking and keeping the ball in play. Level par is often a very good score and, with strong, gusting winds, the challenge becomes even harder.

"It can be a frustrating golf course," said Smith, who leads the LIV Golf league this season in putting. "Feels like you can birdie every hole and you can bogey or double every hole. You've got to stay patient out there and wait until you hit the fairways and just make the most of your opportunities. It's one of those courses where you don't want to get on the back foot."

The Rippers, who have enjoyed a bountiful 2024 season highlighted by victories in Adelaide and Singapore, have three more regular events to go as they bid to add more silverware to their trophy cabinet.

They currently occupy fourth spot in the season-long standings and will be looking to finish their campaign with a flourish at the September 20-22 LIV Golf Team Championship in Texas.

"I think internally that we're the best team out here, and we're going to be tough to beat when we all have our best stuff," said Leishman. "I think we're going to be tough to beat."