LIV Golf’s Virginia event delivered a dramatic Sunday, marked by shifting momentum and a brief 20-minute rain delay just as Sergio García was regaining his rhythm. The Spanish golfer from Borriol finished second, with Australian Lucas Herbert claiming the victory after resisting García’s late surge—and securing a ticket to the US Open in the process. Despite the Fireballs’ defeat in the playoff, García left with a positive feeling, a rare bright spot in an otherwise challenging season.
A windy Sunday, topped off with rain, stood in stark contrast to the generous conditions of Saturday. All players suffered except for Anthony Kim, the revived golfer who thrives in the wind. He shot a remarkable 62 and later sank the decisive putt that gave the 4Aces the team title over the Fireballs.
The tournament essentially boiled down to the featured group, as circuit dominator Jon Rahm was too far back to contend. The golfer from Barrika struggled immensely on the greens, nearly reaching the point of frustration. However, he started with an eagle and, on his 16th hole, recorded the first albatross of his professional career—a welcome boost ahead of next week’s PGA Championship.
The individual title was a duel between Herbert and García, although Bryson DeChambeau, who finished third, mounted a brief challenge when the Australian showed his only moment of weakness. That occurred on the par-3 9th hole, where the champion made a double bogey after missing the green. García responded with a great putt, cutting the five-shot lead to two. It went to one on the next hole.
It seemed the momentum had shifted entirely, but Herbert stopped the bleeding. He executed a brilliant approach from the fringe with a fairway wood on the 11th hole and steadied himself. Despite not winning a tournament in a year, the pressure didn’t faze him. He made two consecutive birdies where García could only manage pars, reopening a three-shot gap.
The outcome appeared sealed when García (70) bogeyed the 13th, extending the deficit to four. A final push from García—a birdie on the 15th—and a Herbert mistake reduced it to two with two holes to play before the rain delay. The restart proved unproductive for the Fireballs captain, and he ultimately missed the playoff.
In the team playoff, Puig and Ballester fell to Detry and the sensational Kim.
Jon Rahm
Sergio García
LIV Golf
