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Dean Burmester defeats Sergio Garcia in LIV Golf Miami playoff

golf08 April 2024 03:39| © Reuters
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Dean Burmester of South Africa saved par at the second playoff hole to defeat Sergio Garcia of Spain and win LIV Golf Miami for his first LIV victory on Sunday at Trump National Doral.

After both players made par the first time through, they returned to the tee at the par-4 18th, and Garcia's second shot found the water hazard. Burmester got on in two shots, and Garcia holed a bogey putt to put the pressure on Burmester to save par.

But there was little to sweat, as Burmester's 3-footer for par was in all the way, giving the 34-year-old his first LIV title after four career wins on the DP World Tour.

Garcia, who held a share of the lead after the first round and a two-stroke advantage after the second, once again came up short in a playoff. The 2017 Masters champion lost a playoff at LIV Golf Singapore last year to Talor Gooch and fell to Chile's Joaquin Niemann at the 2024 season opener at Mayakoba.

Garcia made a dramatic 40-foot birdie putt across the 17th green to get to 12 under, and up ahead, Burmester carded his only bogey of the day at the 18th to finish at 4-under 68 for the day and 11-under 205 for the week.

But when Garcia reached the green in two, he simply had to make two putts to polish off the win in regulation. His first came up well short, and his par attempt slid past the cup, as he settled for a final-round 70 and the playoff.

Matthew Wolff (69 Sunday) finished in third two shots behind at 10 under. Marc Leishman (69) of Australia, Jon Rahm (69) of Spain and Tyrrell Hatton (71) of England tied for fourth at 8 under.

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