Stinger GC Completes Dominant Sweep at LIV Golf chicago, Championship Race Tightens
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Chicago, IL – August 20, 2024 – Stinger GC secured a commanding victory at LIV Golf chicago today, completing a rare sweep of both the team and individual titles. Dean Burmester continued his impressive playoff record, defeating Paul Barjon in a sudden-death showdown at Rich Harvest Farms, while his Stinger GC teammates – including captain Gerlou Roux and teammates Masahiro Kawamura and Jinichiro Kozuma – clinched the team championship after a dramatic playoff win against Torque GC. The win marks the fourth team/individual sweep of the season and the second for Stinger GC in LIV Golf history.
beyond the thrilling finish in Chicago, the tournament substantially impacted the season-long standings, particularly the race for the individual championship and the battle to secure spots within the crucial Lock Zone and avoid the perilous Drop Zone.
Championship Implications & Individual Standings
The victory for Burmester, his second individual title of the season, further intensifies the individual championship race. Joaquin niemann remains in a strong position, but the pressure is mounting. According to LIV Golf’s scoring system, Niemann can now clinch the individual title with a second-place finish or better at the next event, nonetheless of Rahm‘s performance. Rahm, currently trailing Niemann, would need to finish seventh or higher at the upcoming event in Indianapolis to maintain his championship hopes.
Lock Zone Shuffle: Who’s In, Who’s Out
The top 24 players in the standings at the end of the regular season secure a coveted spot in the Lock Zone, guaranteeing participation in the season-ending Team Championship.Significant movement occurred in Chicago:
Rising Stars: Harold Varner III of 4Aces GC made the most significant jump, surging from 26th to 18th after a stellar final round of 6-under 65, tying for fifth place at 7-under overall. Thomas Pieters (4Aces GC) also improved his position, moving from 27th to 20th with a tie for 10th at 5-under.
Falling Back: Tyrrell Hatton of Legion XIII slipped from 23rd to 25th, and 4Aces GC captain Dustin Johnson dropped from 24th to 28th, both falling outside the secure Lock Zone positions.
on the Bubble: Richard Bland of Cleeks GC continues his pursuit of a fourth consecutive year within the Lock Zone,currently holding the 26th position after tying for 10th.
Relegation zone Drama: A Fight for Survival
The bottom players face the threat of relegation, with those in the Drop Zone (49th and below) potentially losing their playing privileges. Chicago saw crucial shifts in this battle:
Escaping the Drop: Wild Card player Chieh-po Lee dramatically improved his standing,climbing from 49th to 45th with a strong tie for 13th. This result is particularly significant as Lee earned his LIV Golf spot through the 2023 LIV Golf Promotions event. Clinging to Hope: Mito Pereira of Torque GC also showed improvement, tying for 13th – his best result in 19 starts – and moving from 53rd to 49th. However, Pereira needs another strong finish at the Indianapolis event to solidify his position and avoid relegation. His performance in chicago was highlighted by a dramatic finish, carding four birdies in his last five holes, including three consecutive, to force the team playoff.
Into the Danger Zone: Andy Ogletree of HyFlyers GC fell into the Drop Zone, dropping from 48th to 50th after tying for 34th.
LIV Golf Season Context & Records
Stinger GC’s victory marks the fifth different team to win a tournament this season, joining Legion XIII (four wins), Crushers GC and Fireballs GC (three wins each), and Ripper GC (one win).
This is the 16th instance of a team sweeping both the team and individual titles in the 45 regular-season LIV Golf tournaments held to date. Stinger GC previously achieved this feat at the inaugural LIV Golf event in London in 2022, with Charl Schwartzel taking the individual crown. This season has seen four sweeps: Stinger GC (Chicago), Fireballs GC (Hong Kong), Ripper GC (Miami), and Crushers GC (Korea).
The individual playoff between Burmester and Barjon was the 12th in LIV Golf history, with Burmester now boasting a perfect 2-0 record in sudden-death playoffs. The team playoff was the third
