It wasn’t to be for Belfast’s Tom McKibbin as the 23-year-old came into the final round at Club de Golf Chapultepec tied for third and in search of his maiden win on LIV Golf, but a final-round level-par 72 saw McKibbin finish his week in T5 on 11-under.
It was a uneventful opening nine holes for McKibbin, making par on the first eight holes before making a bogey at the par-4 ninth.
He then went birdie-bogey at the 13th and 14th, before making a four at the par-5 16th to ensure that he didn’t post an over-par round throughout the weekend and secured his third career top-five finish
It was a somewhat victorious day for McKibbin though, as his Legion XIII team won the team event on 45-under, nine-strokes ahead of Fireballs GC in second place.
McKibbin’s team captain, Jon Rahm had a flawless weekend as the Spaniard secured his fourth individual LIV Golf win, finishing six strokes clear of David Puig in second place.
A commanding final round saw Rahm go bogey free, making five birdies and an eagle.
With his Legion XIII team claiming the team trophy, Rahm has now celebrated 16 different LIV Golf trophies, putting him one ahead of Crushers GC’s Bryson DeChambeau, despite playing two less seasons.
DeChambeau pulled out of the tournament after the third round due to a wrist injury.
Rahm has quickly bounced back from his disappointing T38 finish at the Masters.
“A little bit of disbelief,” said Rahm. “If you would have told me last week on Thursday afternoon that I’d be winning by a six-shot margin this week, I would not have believed you because of how bad I played. Hell of an effort, and just what a Sunday,” he added.
Rahm’s Legion XIII teammate Tyrrell Hatton started the day two strokes back from Rahm in T2, but an early double-bogey at the second hole didn’t allow Hatton to find from as he finished alongside McKibbin in T5.
“Jon obviously played amazing today,” said Hatton. “He got off to just a perfect start, and yeah, unfortunately for me it ended up being a difficult day,” he added.
It was an all Spanish podium finish as David Puig and Josele Ballester secured the second and third spots at 15-under and 14-under respectively.
“I still think I had my chances, right, even with how good he started,” Puig said.
“Me and Jon, we spend at least four or five days a week when we’re playing together and working out. It’s obviously great for me to have him around because he teaches me a lot of stuff,” added Puig.
Speaking on the all Spanish podium finish, Rahm said; “Seeing those two names up there, two friends, makes me want to beat them even more,” Rahm said of the young stars, “but also be cautious because I know exactly what they’re capable of.”
It was a week of struggles for Graeme McDowell as the 46-year-old failed to post an under-par round. McDowell carded a six-over-par final round to see him finish T52.
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