Dustin Johnson holds unassailable lead over closest challengers Branden Grace and Patrick Reed heading into LIV Golf Invitational occasion in Jeddah, the final common match within the inaugural season of the Saudi-backed circuit
Last Updated: 10/10/22 1:55pm
Dustin Johnson has been confirmed because the inaugural LIV Golf Individual Champion
Former Masters champion Dustin Johnson has been crowned the inaugural LIV Golf Individual Champion with an occasion to spare, securing the $18m (£16.25m) first prize.
Johnson has featured in all six occasions of the Saudi-backed circuit since his change from the PGA Tour in June, ending inside the highest 10 within the first 5 tournaments earlier than claiming sixteenth place on the LIV Golf Invitational Bangkok on Sunday.
The three factors earned in Thailand took Johnson to 121 factors within the season-long competitors, giving Johnson – who received the LIV Golf Invitational Boston final month – an unassailable 42-point benefit over nearest challenger Branden Grace.
Dustin Johnson believes it’s honest that LIV Tour gamers ought to earn official world rating factors however doesn’t anticipate retrospective factors from earlier occasions this season
The winner of every occasion earns 40 factors, which means Johnson will finish the common season in high spot no matter his efficiency on the LIV Golf Invitational Jeddah this weekend.
“Locking up the individual competition is big. It’s an honour to be LIV’s first individual season champion,” Johnson stated. “I’d like to thank Greg Norman and LIV for their confidence in me, my brother and caddie Austin, my wife Paulina, my 4 Aces team-mates Pat [Perez], Patrick [Reed], and Talor [Gooch], as well as LIV’s growing legion of fans around the world.
Phil Mickelson is happy to have full support from LIV Golf over their partnership with the MENA Tour and pursuit of world ranking points
“Our staff is in a extremely good place with two occasions to go and I’m trying ahead to additional contributing to LIV Golf’s thrilling story and continued development.”
Runner-up in the final individual standings earns $8m (£7.2m) and $4m (£3.6m) will be awarded to the golfer in third place, with plenty of players still in contention for the bonus pay-outs heading into the Jeddah event.
“The first chapter of LIV Golf’s historical past couldn’t be written with out Dustin Johnson’s title,” said LIV Golf CEO and commissioner Greg Norman. “By any measure, DJ is among the many elite gamers on the earth.
“From the start, he’s been a LIV Golf cornerstone. He has more than lived up to his billing and he deserves immense credit for clinching LIV’s first individual season title. We look forward to a celebration befitting such a champion in Miami at the end of October.”
Branden Grace has defended his involvement in LIV Golf, stating it’s only going to get ‘greater and higher’
Grace occupies second spot with 79 factors however is an damage doubt for the Saudi Arabia occasion, having withdrawn mid-tournament when holding a share of the lead throughout final week’s occasion, with Patrick Reed three factors again in third.
Inaugural LIV Golf winner Charl Schwartzel (55), Matthew Wolff (50) and Louis Oosthuizen (49) are among the many gamers nonetheless chasing a top-three end, whereas Sergio Garcia (44), Joaquin Niemann (42) and Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra (41) can nonetheless finish the season within the pay-out locations.
The remaining occasion of 2022 is the season-ending LIV Golf Team Championship at Trump National Doral Golf Club in Miami from October 28-30 – the Blue Monster course will stage a knockout match that includes each match play and stroke play.
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