MEXICO CITY – Charles Howell III put together a stunning round on Sunday, firing an eight-under 63 to win the LIV Golf Mayakoba in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.
Howell birdied six holes on the front nine and finished with eight during his bogey-free third round to claim his first LIV Golf title.
He shot 16-under 197 for the event, four strokes ahead of runner-up Peter Uihlein, who had a 68 on Sunday after being the second-round co-leader.
“I had a lot of experience here, and that helped a bit in the wind. I would say that,” Howell said.
“Versus guys that are now just seeing it for the first time, having played it in the wind for so many years, I think that helped a little bit.”
Uihlein carded an eagle on the par-five fifth hole, but struggled on the par-four 12th, posting a triple bogey. Although he finished strongly with four birdies over the final six holes, he still was not able to catch Howell.
“I mean, other than one – technically three bad swings on one hole, it was good,” Uihlein said of his round.
“I hit a bad drive on three, but other than that, for the most part, that was my – it was a good bogey. It really was a great bogey.
“I lost one ball all week. I mean, other than that one hole. All in all a good week.”
Talor Gooch, the other second-round co-leader, struggled mightily on Sunday, carding six bogeys against one birdie to shoot a 76, dropping him to 14th.
South African Branden Grace (67 on Sunday) finished third at 10 under, six strokes off the lead. England’s Paul Casey (70) finished fourth, and Brendan Steele (65) rounded out the top five.
Along with Bryson DeChambeau, Howell and Casey also helped Crushers GC to a team title, the squad’s first.
Crushers GC finished at 26 under, nine strokes ahead of second-placed 4Aces GC – Uihlein, Pat Perez and Patrick Reed. Torque GC came in third at 13 under.
“This is what we’ve been working on for all of last year, and we didn’t get it done, so to come off with a crushing start, I guess you could say was pretty fun,” DeChambeau said. REUTERS
source: straitstimes
