DORAL, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 29: Team Captain Dustin Johnson of 4 Aces GC speaks with the media during a press conference after the semifinals of the LIV Golf Invitational - Miami at Trump National Doral Miami on October 29, 2022 in Doral, Florida. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/LIV Golf via Getty Images)
30 OCTOBER, 2022 - SHANK MEDIA, BY MATT HOOPER: INNOVATION. CONTROVERSY. ENTERTAINMENT. THE ESTABLISHMENT AND THEIR MANY FOLLOWERS MAY HAVE SLAMMED LIV GOLF AND WHAT IT IS DOING TO PROFESSIONAL MEN'S GOLF, BUT FOR ALL THE CRITICISM, ANYONE WHO HAS WATCHED THE 2022 SEASON CANNOT FAIL TO HAVE BEEN ENTERTAINED. ARGUABLY THE MOST ENTERTAINING OF ALL CAME IN THE FINAL WEEK OF THE INAUGURAL SEASON, WITH THE UNIQUE TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP AT TRUMP DORAL IN MIAMI.
TWO DAYS OF MATCH PLAY FOLLOWED BY ONE ROUND OF STROKEPLAY IS AN ALMOST UNIQUE FORMAT IN GOLF, AND TOTALLY UNIQUE IN PROFESSIONAL GOLF. ONCE AGAIN THE DOUBTERS AND HATERS MOCKED IT, BUT ONCE MORE LIV GOLF DELIVERED AN EVENT WHICH WAS COMPELLING, AND THE MASSES IN ATTENDANCE LAPPED IT UP. THE 4ACES WENT INTO THE FINALS ON SUNDAY AS THE FAVOURITES, AND LED BY THEIR DOMINANT INDIVIDUAL CHAMPION, DUSTIN JOHNSON, THEY LIVED UP TO THE BILLING, WINNING, BUT ONLY JUST.
PUNCH GC, LED BY THE OPEN CHAMPION, CAMERON SMITH, PUSHED THE AMERICANS ALL THE WAY WITH MATT JONES SHOOTING 70 ALLIED TO SMITH'S MAGNIFICENT ROUND OF 65. MARC LEISHMAN MADE A FINE BIRDIE AT THE PAR-5 TENTH HOLE TO MOVE PUNCH TO -6, BUT IT WAS CAPTAIN AMERICA HIMSELF, PATRICK REED, WHO EDGED THE 4ACES CLOSE TO VICTORY WITH A BIRDIE AT THE 2ND HOLE. DUSTIN JOHNSON MADE A STRAIGHTFORWARD PAR AT THE 18TH AFTER A FANTASTIC DRIVE SET UP HIS APPROACH TO THE GREEN. SMITH COULD NOT FIND THE BIRDIE HE NEEDED TO FORCE EXTRA HOLES, AND AFTER FOUR TEAM SUCCESSES IN THE REGULAR SEASON, THE 4ACES CLAIMED THE TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP.
SMASH GC WERE IN CONTENTION FOR MUCH OF THE DAY, BUT FELL AWAY BADLY IN THE CLOSING STAGES, AND THE SOUTH AFRICAN TEAM STINGERS, INCLUDING OOSTHUIZEN, GRACE AND SCHWARTZEL, HAD A DAY TO FORGET, FINISH LAST BY A DISTANCE.
THE SCENES ON THE 18TH AND AT THE POST-EVENT PRESENTATION WILL HAVE GIVEN GREG NORMAN VINDICATION FOR SETTING UP LIV GOLF, AND THE CONCEPT, WITH THOUSANDS OF FANS LINING THE FAIRWAYS, GREENS AND AREA AROUND THE PODIUM.
SO, THAT IS IT FOR THE FIRST SEASON OF LIV GOLF.
CONTROVERSY HAS SURROUNDED EACH AND EVERY STEP ALONG THE WAY, BUT WITHOUT QUESTION IT HAS BEEN A SUCCESSFUL SEASON, AND MORE IS TO COME WITH THE FIRST FULL LIV GOLF LEAGUE SEASON SCHEDULED TO LAUNCH IN FEBRUARY 2023.
I'LL HAVE A FULL REACTION TO THIS INAUGURAL SEASON, AND MY ASSESSMENT OF THE CURRENT SITUATION IN GOLF OVER THE COMING WEEKS ON SHANKMEDIA.CO.UK/LIVGOLF.
