DORAL, Fla. — Phil MickelsonHis long year as a central figure in Saudi funded LIV Golf ended Friday with the victory of the British Open champion Cameron SmithMickelson was defeated when Mickelson shot a 7-foot birdie to win the final hole. His team was eliminated.
The LIV Golf Team Championship Miami-Trump National Doral is all match play. Four teams advance to Saturdays semifinals to take on the four teams who had won byes based only on the previous seven LIV events.
Marc LeishmanBeaten by the Australian team Punch . Matthew WolffIn a singles match. In the foursomes matches Bernd WiesbergerAnd Cameron TringaleOne point was won by the Hy Flyers . It was Smith and Mickelsons turn to play the other singles match.
They traded pars for most of the front nine — they began on the par-3 9th in the shotgun start — and it was down to the par-5 8th. Mickelson missed the birdie putt at 8 feet. Smith made it for a 1-up win.
In another quarterfinal Harold Varner IIIFour-time major champion easily handled Brooks KoepkaFor his Niblicks , team, he has 4, and 3. However, Koepka was saved by his brother. Chase KoepkaAnd Jason KokrakAfter one point, Smash won foursomes match. Peter UihleinBeat James PiotIn a battle of U.S. Amateur champions.
Uihlein won Amateur in 2010, while Piot won in 2021.
Ian PoulterHis Majestiks , which easily advanced with a sweep over the Iron Heads , were all the winners. None of the matches went beyond the quarterfinals. Poulter faced the challenge of his captains as they played each other in every quarterfinal. Kevin Na4 and 2 wins.
Graeme McDowellAnd Richard BlandThe victory was won by the Cleeks . Joaquin Niemann Torque , the winner of his teams one point, won a 5-and-3 singles win over Shergo Al KurdiJordan, a late substitution Martin KaymerAn injured wrist meant that you couldnt play.
Laurie CanterFor a 1-up win over, made a 25-foot putt Jediah MorganThat sent the Cleeks , to the next round.
Dustin JohnsonHis leading team, 4 Aces, will face the Cleeks on Saturday. Other matches will be Sergio Garcias Fireballs” against Smith and the Punch; Brooks Koepka versus Ian Poulter as Smash face the Majestiks Bryson deChambeauand his Crushers against South African team Stinger led by Louis Oosthuizen.
The four winners teams will advance to Sundays medal play, where every players score will be counted.
Each member of Fridays losers teams received $250,000. Each of Saturdays semi-finalist losers receives $750,000.
Each member of the winning team receives $4 million.
