[PHOTO: LIV Golf]

Ripper GC’s defence of their LIV Golf Team Championship crown ended early during the finale in Michigan, with the all-South African Stinger GC exacting revenge in a clash that carried echoes of their playoff heartbreak at LIV Golf Adelaide last year.

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The Australians – Cameron Smith (c), Marc Leishman, Lucas Herbert and Matt Jones – entered the Michigan finale at The Cardinal at Saint Johns hoping to pull off back-to-back titles having won the 2024 Team Championship. But Stinger GC delivered one of the quarterfinals’ biggest statements.

Dean Burmester struck the first blow, handling Bendigo product Herbert with authority in their singles showdown, 4 and 2. From there, the momentum swung heavily in Stinger’s favour. Louis Oosthuizen, alongside longtime teammate Charl Schwartzel, combined seamlessly in the foursomes (alternate shot) format, defeating Leishman and Jones 4 and 3.

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Smith managed to give Ripper GC some hope with a 3 and 2 win over Branden Grace, but it proved to be only consolation as Stinger GC locked away the decisive two points.

“Well, I don’t really think about [the LIV Adelaide defeat],” Oosthuizen said. “Obviously it feels good now, but we knew we had to play well against them. Me and Charl started slow, and then really picked up the pace and started playing some good golf. Branden played well, as well. He ran up against Cam being Cam, playing very well, and then I didn’t see much of Dean’s scoring, but I would always think between the two of them, there would be a lot of birdies between him and Lucas. Just chuffed that the boys pulled through and we can see where we can go now.”

Meanwhile, Phil Mickelson’s HyFlyers grabbed the spotlight by sending Sergio Garcia’s Fireballs GC packing in what many viewed as the upset of the round. Captain Mickelson was forced into extra holes against David Puig, eventually prevailing on the 19th despite being 32 years older than his Spanish rival.

The win, however, was ultimately academic—Mickelson’s teammates had already sealed the deal. Cameron Tringale extended his excellent record in LIV singles play to 6-0 by downing Abraham Ancer 3 and 1. Andy Ogletree and Brendan Steele then edged Sergio Garcia and Josele Ballester 1 up in foursomes to lock up the clean sweep of 3-0.

Top seeds, Jon Rahm’s Legion XIII, were given a scare by Cleeks GC after captain Rahm chose them as quarterfinal opponents. Rahm’s gamble backfired when Adrian Meronk edged him 2 and 1, capitalising on a late stumble from the world No. 1 seed, who three-putted from inside 12 feet on the 17th.

“It feels really nice,” Meronk said. “I knew it’s going to be a hard match. We were going back and forth. It was very enjoyable, and I really enjoyed it. I’m glad I got that point.”

Legion XIII grabbed a point through young duo Tom McKibbin and Caleb Surratt, who beat Martin Kaymer and Frederik Kjettrup 2 and 1 meaning Tyrrell Hatton had to beat Richard Bland for Legion to advacne. In extra holes, Bland missed a short par putt to send Legion through.

Bryson DeChambeau’s Crushers made short work of Majesticks GC. The captain set the tone with a 4 and 2 win over England veteran Lee Westwood while Paul Casey and Charles Howell III thumped Ian Poulter and Henrik Stenson 5 and 4. Only Sam Horsfield salvaged a point for the Majesticks, beating Anirban Lahiri 2 and 1.

Over in a marquee battle, Smash GC toppled the star-studded 4Aces. Dustin Johnson got the better of Brooks Koepka, 1vup, but Smash rallied through Graeme McDowell and Jason Kokrak’s defeat of Thomas Pieters and Harold Varner III, before Talor Gooch delivered the clincher against Patrick Reed.

Torque GC, fresh off their team win in Indianapolis, kept rolling by eliminating RangeGoats GC. Joaquin Niemann overcame Bubba Watson 2 and 1, while Carlos Ortiz and Sebastian Munoz edged Peter Uihlein and Matthew Wolff 2 and 1. Ben Campbell’s singles win over Mito Pereira was not enough to keep the RangeGoats alive.