In a thrilling conclusion to the championship round, the Australian-based team, Thunderbolt, secured its maiden team title in the prestigious golf league. The team’s victory was sealed with clutch putts from Cameron Smith and Lucas Herbert in the final stages of the competition.
Herbert, who had earlier struggled with a double bogey and a bogey on two par 5s at the Maridoe Golf Club, rallied with four birdies over his last five holes, including a crucial 12-foot putt for birdie on the 17th hole. Smith, meanwhile, hit a precise 60-yard pitch to 12 feet and sank the birdie putt on the 17th, giving Thunderbolt the lead for good. He then drove his tee shot down the middle on the 18th, effectively securing the win.
Matt Jones and Marc Leishman also contributed to the team’s success, with Jones birdieing two of his last three holes following a double bogey, and Leishman shooting a 70. Thunderbolt finished with a total score of 11-under 277, three shots ahead of its closest rivals, Storm Chasers and Firebirds.
“It was a real team effort today,” Smith said. “To have my teammates pushing hard to get the job done, I knew we were going to be okay.”
The final round was a nail-biter, with the top four teams competing in a stroke play format. Thunderbolt, Storm Chasers, and Firebirds were tied for the lead with just a few holes to play, until the Australian team pulled ahead with its clutch putts.
Storm Chasers, led by captain Dustin Johnson, had a strong chance of winning until Patrick Reed missed a crucial 6-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole. Johnson himself caught the lip of the cup on a birdie putt at the 17th, putting his team two shots behind Thunderbolt.
Firebirds, meanwhile, was the dark horse of the competition, having finished last in the regular season. The team, led by Jinichiro Kozuma, knocked out several top contenders, including the team led by Brooks Koepka and the defending champion team led by Bryon DeChambeau.
Thunderbolt’s victory earned the team a staggering $14 million, with each player receiving $1.4 million and the remainder going to team management.
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