The Big Showdown: Bryson's Big Win in Korea

Bryson DeChambeau had a spectacular day in Korea. He won both the individual and team titles at the LIV Golf Korea event. It was a close call, but he pulled off a remarkable 48-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole. This putt was crucial, as it helped him finish the tournament at 19-under 197. This victory was DeChambeau's third on the LIV circuit but his first of the season. He had to outplay his Crushers GC teammate, Charles Howell III, who shot an impressive 9-under 63 to finish second, just two shots behind. DeChambeau's win was especially sweet because he had been struggling in recent Sunday rounds. He had led after 36 holes in the past two LIV Golf events but hadn't managed to secure a win. He was also ahead at the Masters with 16 holes left but fell short. This time, however, he held his ground. Howell played a strong front nine, cutting DeChambeau's lead to just one stroke at the turn. But DeChambeau's performance on the back nine was what sealed the deal. He made six birdies, including that game-changing putt on the 17th hole, to secure his victory. Howell's performance was nothing short of impressive. He made birdie on five consecutive holes from the 11th to the 15th, tying him with DeChambeau at 17 under with three holes to go. But a bogey on the par-5 16th and a birdie on the final hole weren't enough to catch up to DeChambeau. Howell's 9-under 63 was a fantastic round, but it just wasn't enough to overtake DeChambeau's lead. This was Howell's first appearance on the podium since his win at LIV Gold Mayakoba in 2023. The Crushers team also had a strong showing. Paul Casey shot a 67 on Sunday, and Anirban Lahiri recovered from a tough 79 on Saturday to shoot a 72. The team finished 20 under par on Sunday as a group, defeating Smash GC by nine shots. Casey acknowledged that the team's success was largely due to DeChambeau and Howell. He said their job was simply to not mess it up. This team effort was crucial in securing the team title. On the individual side, Talor Gooch finished third with a 6-under 66, ending at 14 under. Thomas Pieters and Patrick Reed tied for fourth, nine strokes behind DeChambeau. Matthew Wolff finished sixth, 10 strokes behind the winner. DeChambeau's win sets him up for the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club. Last year, he was the runner-up to Xander Schauffele in the same event.