Mickelson Meltdown and a 7-Shot Win for Cam Smith in LIV Golf

BEDMINSTER, N.J. (AP) — Phil Mickelson’s bid for his first LIV Golf title ended early and spectacularly. Cam Smith not often made profitable look really easy Sunday at LIV Golf-Bedminster.

Mickelson, taking part in within the last group for the primary time since becoming a member of the Saudi-funded circuit final yr, hit two tee photographs within the water and made a quintuple-bogey 8 on the par-3 seventh gap at Trump Nationwide, successfully ended his hopes.

Smith, who had two early bogeys that dropped his result in three photographs over Mickelson on the time, closed with 5 birdies and a clear card for a 3-under 68 and seven-shot victory.

Smith gained for the second time in three LIV Golf occasions and took over the season factors race in his try to assert the $18 million bonus on the finish of the season.

He completed at 12-under 201.

Anirban Lahiri closed with a 70 to complete alone in second. Abraham Ancer (69), Patrick Reed (71) and Dean Burmester (72) tied for third.

“That was the aim because the begin of the yr, to be up with a shot at it,” Smith mentioned of the season factors race. “Acquired a few weeks left.”

LIV Golf is now off for the subsequent 5 weeks till returning exterior Chicago.

Mickelson ended an attention-filled week with a 75. He tied for ninth, his first high 10 of the yr. The day earlier than the match started, an excerpt from gambler Billy Walters’ guide was launched that claimed Mickelson positioned over $1 billion in bets over the past 30 years and requested Walters to guess $400,000 on the U.S. group to win the 2012 Ryder Cup that Mickelson performed in.

Mickelson mentioned he by no means positioned a guess on the Ryder Cup.

Smith earned $4 million for the win, elevating his complete to only over $13.6 million for the yr. He mentioned he would put the golf equipment away for the primary few weeks of his break.

“My golf equipment deserve a relaxation,” Smith mentioned.

His Ripper group gained the group competitors by 11 photographs.

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