NORTH PLAINS, OREGON - JUNE 30: Branden Grace of Stinger GC plays his shot from the fifth tee during day one of the LIV Golf Invitational - Portland at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club on June 30, 2022 in North Plains, Oregon. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/LIV Golf via Getty Images)
3 JULY, 2022 - SHANK MEDIA, BY MATT HOOPER: Branden Grace HAS CONTINUED THE South African DOMINATION OF LIV GOLF WITH A STUNNING FINAL ROUND PERFORMANCE TO TAKE THE TITLE AT THE LIV GOLF PORTLAND INVITATIONAL, AT PUMPKIN RIDGE. THE 2012 ALFRED DUNHILL LINKS CHAMPION AND WINNER OF 2 PGA Tour AND 9 DP WORLD TOUR TITLES SHOT A SATURDAY 65 TO DEFEAT MEXICO'S Carlos Ortiz BY 2, Patrick Reed AND Dustin Johnson BY 4.
THE 34-YEAR-OLD FROM PRETORIA SURGED INTO THE LEAD WITH A SENSATIONAL RUN ON HIS SECOND NINE HOLES, BIRDIEING THE 10TH, 13TH AND 15TH TO ASCEND TO THE TOP OF THE LEADERBOARD BY 1 OVER ORTIZ, BUT ON THE 16TH HOLE HE MISSED BOTH THE FAIRWAY AND GREEN, AND WAS LOOKING CERTAIN TO FALL BACK TO A TIE WITH THE MEXICAN.
BUT THEN CAME ARGUABLY THE HIGHLIGHT MOMENT IN LIV GOLF HISTORY SO FAR. GRACE PLAYED A PERFECT PITCH WHICH LANDED LIKE A BUTTERFLY AND ROLLED TOWARDS THE HOLE, TAKING THE BREAK LEFT TO RIGHT AND DROPPING INTO THE CUP. THE CROWD WENT WILD AND GRACE CLENCHED HIS FIST, PUMPING THE AIR. IT WAS A HUGE MOMENT, FOR GRACE, FOR GREG, AND FOR GOLF. THIS COULD BE THE MOMENT WE LOOK BACK ON IN YEARS TO COME THAT SIGNALLED THE CHANGE IN THE WORLD OF GOLF.
GRACE WENT ON TO MAKE A BIRDIE AT THE 17TH, AND WHEN ORTIZ FAILED TO BIRDIE AND JOHNSON FAILED TO MAKE EAGLE, HE WAS AFFORDED THE LUXURY OF A WALK DOWN THE 54TH HOLE WITH A 3 SHOT LEAD. AND WOW, WHAT A SCENE AT 18.
NORTH PLAINS, OREGON - JUNE 29: A general view of the 18th green is seen during the pro-am prior to the LIV Golf Invitational - Portland at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club on June 29, 2022 in North Plains, Oregon. (Photo by Chris Trotman/LIV Golf/via Getty Images)
THE FANS LAPPED UP THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND A SIGNIFICANT, MEN'S GOLF EVENT IN THE AREA FOR THE FIRST TIME IN DECADES, AND THEY WERE ENGAGED AND ENTHUSIASTIC. IF THE PGA Tour WERE HOPING FOR LIV GOLF TO FLOP, THEY WILL BE SORELY DISAPPOINTED. CENTURION AND PUMPKIN RIDGE HAVE BOTH BEEN A PHENOMENAL SUCCESS, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE South African.
THE 4 ACES WON THE TEAM COMPETITION (Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed, TALOR GOOCH AND PAT PEREZ) BY 7 SHOTS FROM THE STINGERS (GRACE, Louis Oosthuizen, CHARL SCHWARTZEL AND HENNIE DU PLESIS).
LIV GOLF RETURNS FOR THE BEDMINSTER INVITATIONAL AT TRUMP BEDMINSTER JULY 29-31.
FINAL LEADERBOARD
BRANDEN GRACE -13
CARLOS ORTIZ -11
PATRICK REED -9
DUSTIN JOHNSON -9
LOUIS OOSTHUIZEN -7
