It wasn’t to be for David Puig (-13). The young Spanish golfer from La Garriga started as co-leader in the final round of the LIV Golf tournament in Houston in search of his first victory on the tour. A triumph that he seemed to be heading towards with a brilliant start to the round this Sunday, with three birdies in his first six holes that placed him alone at the top of the leaderboard. But a mistake from the tee of the 9th hole, with a ball to the bunker, seemed to disconnect him and was the start of a ‘jam’ from which he could not recover in time.
On the 12th, with another mistake also with his tee shot and a bad recovery, he made his second and last bogey of the day. And although he tried to react in the final stretch, with a birdie at the par four of the 15th and another spectacular one at the par three of the 16th, it was already too late for him. For him and for Adrian Meronk (-14) and Patrick Reed (-13), who could do practically nothing to catch up with Carlos Ortiz (-15), whose consistency and ability to avoid complications had allowed him to open a significant gap in the table.
Lift off for @carlosortizGolf in Houston 🚀
The winning moment for your individual champion 🏆🇲🇽#LIVGolf @TorqueGC_ pic.twitter.com/mKWKxai7rh
— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) June 9, 2024
The only moment of doubt for the Mexican, who debuted his record on the Saudi tour with a round of four under par, was on the last hole, which he came out with a two-stroke lead over Meronk. He protected himself too much from the tee on the right side and missed the green on his approach shot. But he recovered wonderfully to leave himself a putt of just over a meter. The Pole missed his birdie attempt to put pressure and seek the tie, and although Carlos missed his par putt, the bogey was enough for him to win.
The Mexican had been second in Portland, in his first season in LIV Golf, and in Tucson last year. Now he manages to add his name to a list of winners in which, if he continues to play as he has in recent months, David Puig will not be long in joining. Today, despite the slowdown in the middle of his round, he knew how to react to rescue a great third place tied with Reed just days before playing for his place in the Paris Olympic Games at the US Open in Pinehurst, where he needs at least to make the cut.
.@PuigCorrius takes the top spot 📈
He leads by 1 on 12-under 👀#LIVGolf @fireballsgc_ pic.twitter.com/hUcYajJq9w
— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) June 9, 2024
Neither does it seem that Sergio García (-11) will take long to win on the Saudi tour, who has been hovering around victory on several occasions this season. Today he started his round sensationally, with two birdies in his first two holes, but a ball in the water that ended with a double bogey prevented him from getting to the fight in time. Even so, he was able to make five more birdies to finish fifth alone and contribute to the Fireballs (-31) tying for second place in the team standings with the Smash GC (-31).
The victory in this team classification was for the Cleeks (-33) of Meronk, who together with Bland, Samooja and the good Kaymer, who signed a sensational ninth place tied, sneaking into the top 10 of the Saudi tour for the first time, also debuted as winners. López Chacarra (PAR) had to settle for a 41st place after a round with two birdies and five bogeys, penalized by his problems on the greens. Something he will have to try to fix by Thursday for the US Open.
