Fourth in a series of stories reviewing the 2024 season for each of the 13 LIV Golf League teams.
Previous reviews: 4Aces | Cleeks | Crushers
TEAM
The high point of the season came in their home tournament in Andalucía in Spain with a sweep of both the team and individual trophies via playoffs, with captain Sergio Garcia winning his first LIV Golf title at his favorite course, Valderrama. The Fireballs added three more podium finishes but lost a heartbreaking matchup to eventual champion Ripper GC in the Team Championship semifinals.
PLAYERS (final points ranking)
Sergio Garcia (3): At age 44, he enjoyed arguably his most impressive year since his Masters-winning year of 2017. Besides his win at Valderrama, he made two other playoffs, and then moved into the bonus-paying third position in the Individual Championship with a clutch performance in Chicago.
Abraham Ancer (12): Won his first LIV Golf individual title in Hong Kong via playoff to start a stretch of four consecutive top-10 finishes. Finished with points (top 24) in 11 of 13 regular-season tournaments. A very solid, consistent year.
David Puig (26): Made the podium for the first time in his LIV Golf career with a T3 in Houston, but it was a strange season in which he played much better in his non-LIV Golf starts, with one win and four other top-5 finishes. Oh, he’s still just 22.
Eugenio Chacarra (39): Fought hard to find his groove with a series of adjustments but it never came together for the 24-year-old. His best result was a T12 at Andalucía to contribute to the team’s win.
Wins: 1
Podiums: 4
Points Finishes: 12
Seed: 6th
Team Championship: 6th
COUNTING SCORES (league ranking)
Round 1: 99 under (3rd)
Round 2: 99 under (6th)
Round 3: 91 under (3rd)
Total: 289 under (4th)
HIGHLIGHTS
Swept both the team and individual titles in front of home fans at LIV Golf Andalucía
Garcia finishing 3rd in the Individual Championship standings, earning the final spot on the season-long podium
Garcia won first career LIV Golf title at Andalucía in a playoff, and competed in two other playoffs, finishing runner-up in Mayakoba and Miami
Ancer won first career LIV Golf title via playoff in Hong Kong
Puig’s T3 in Houston is his best-ever LIV Golf individual tournament result
Team finished with points in all but one tournament this season
Beyond LIV Golf, Puig won his second professional title at the Malaysian Open in February
Quarterfinals: Defeated Majesticks, 3-0. Chacarra defeated Stenson, 19 holes. Puig defeated Poulter, 3 and 2. Garcia-Ancer def. Westwood-Horsfield, 2 and 1.
Semifinals: Lost to Rippers, 2-1. Chacarra lost to Leishman, 19 holes. Puig lost to Herbert, 1 up. Garcia-Ancer defeated Smith-Jones, 3 and 1.
Finals (Tier 2): 6th at 14 under. Garcia 66, Ancer 68, Chacarra 69, Puig 71.
EVENT | TEAM | Garcia | Ancer | Puig | Chacarra |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mayakoba |
6 |
2 |
T28 |
T38 |
T32 |
Las Vegas |
T7 |
T26 |
T21 |
T15 |
T30 |
Jeddah |
T6 |
T15 |
T12 |
T15 |
T48 |
Hong Kong |
6 |
T38 |
1 |
T34 |
T15 |
Miami |
T4 |
2 |
T9 |
T39 |
T39 |
Adelaide |
10 |
T40 |
T9 |
T40 |
45 |
Singapore |
T2 |
T14 |
T10 |
T27 |
T10 |
Houston |
T2 |
5 |
T24 |
T3 |
41 |
Nashville |
8 |
T18 |
T18 |
T50 |
T18 |
Andalucía |
1 |
1 |
26 |
T27 |
T12 |
UK |
T5 |
T20 |
T16 |
T11 |
T41 |
Greenbrier |
4 |
T8 |
T13 |
T13 |
T28 |
Chicago |
3 |
T2 |
T11 |
T20 |
T40 |
STATISTIC | TEAM | Garcia | Ancer | Puig | Chacarra |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fwy Hit |
3 |
4 |
2 |
T38 |
40 |
Drive Dist. |
4 |
22 |
T39 |
6 |
T11 |
GIR |
5 |
3 |
T9 |
T47 |
T35 |
Scrambling |
6 |
2 |
31 |
24 |
39 |
Putting Avg. |
3 |
T29 |
T13 |
7 |
T43 |
Birdies Avg. |
3 |
T15 |
4 |
5 |
34 |
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