Grace joins LIV’s $4M winner’s list

NORTH PLAINS, Ore. – That’s two tournaments for the new LIV Golf Invitational Series and two winners from Palm Beach County in Florida.

Branden Grace, who lives in Tequesta, came out on top Saturday night. The 34-year-old South African chipped in for birdie on the par-4 16th hole to take a two-shot lead with two holes to play and rode that margin to victory at 13-under.

Grace shot 7-under 65 in the final round at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club outside of Portland thanks to one bogey and eight birdies, including three over the last four holes.

Grace, whose last win came on the PGA Tour at the 2021 Puerto Rico Open, followed in the footsteps of fellow countryman and Palm Beach County resident Charl Schwartzel, who won the inaugural LIV Golf event outside London last month.

The win earns Grace a whopping $4 million, a third of what he made in his entire PGA Tour career ($12,226,197).

Grace pointed to a birdie on the 13th hole as one of the keys to victory. “I thought the birdie on 13 was huge. That hole doesn’t suit me at all with my little fade,” he said. “Going in there, the trees blocked me on the left, so hit a great drive down there, had a perfect number for a 3iron, hit the 3-iron to about 20 feet, and managed to make the putt. Then I thought I’m really in the tournament.

“And then obviously the chip-in on 16. Didn’t really think I hit that bad of a second shot and just came out a little hotter than I expected, and obviously hit a miraculous chip there, and very fortunate it went in. Then just managed to hold on to the end.”

Dustin Johnson, who also lives in Palm Beach County, and his 4 Aces GC ran away with the team title by seven shots at 23-under. For the team win, Johnson and his teammates Patrick Reed, Talor Gooch and Pat Perez will each take home $750,000, on top of their individual earnings.

Stinger GC came in second at 16under, with Fireballs GC taking third at 12 under thanks to a birdie on the final hole from Carlos Ortiz.

LIV Golf ’s next event is July 2931 at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey.