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ST ALBANS (Reuters) -South Africa’s Charl Schwartzel held off compatriot Hennie Du Plessis to assert the largest pay cheque in golf historical past on the opening occasion of the LIV Invitational Collection on Saturday.
The 37-year-old led by three strokes going into the third and closing spherical on the Centurion course north of London, and consolidated with a spherical of 72 to seal the $4 million prize.
Schwartzel, whose earlier highest pay cheque was the $1.4 million he scooped for profitable the 2011 Masters, ended up on seven-under with Du Plessis ending one stroke again. One other South African, Branden Grace, completed third on 5 beneath.
All three have been taking part in for the Stingers workforce who simply gained the workforce component of the brand new sequence.
“You already know, it is a aid,” Schwartzel, who additionally picked up an added $750,000 for being a part of the profitable workforce, mentioned.
“I had it in my palms however I made it a bit tougher than it ought to have been. By no means in my wildest desires did I ever suppose we may play for that a lot cash in golf.”
Schwartzel’s victory ended a tumultuous launch week for the breakaway circuit which is backed to the tune of $250 million by Saudi Arabia’s Public Funding Fund (PIF).
Organisers will level to decent-sized crowds, loads of glitz and the presence of huge names together with six-time main champion Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Sergio Garcia.
However the first of eight occasions has been as a lot a couple of creating energy wrestle off the course and accusations of Saudi ‘sportswashing’ and greed because the motion on it.
“All I can say is that the evolution of golf has arrived,” LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman, who tried to arrange a brand new world tour within the Nineties, mentioned on the presentation ceremony.
“For 27 years there have been quite a lot of obstacles put in our path, quite a lot of desires have tried to be squashed however they could not squash us.”
On Thursday the PGA Tour introduced it had suspended gamers collaborating within the LIV sequence — a transfer LIV organisers described as vindictive and which may result in a authorized battle.
The PGA suspension and the prospect of being ineligible for the Ryder Cup has not stopped extra gamers turning their again on the PGA Tour with big-hitting main champion Bryson DeChambeau becoming a member of the celebration on Friday and fellow American Patrick Reed following go well with on Saturday.
Each will make their debuts on the second occasion of the sequence in Portland, Oregon later this month.
“I am tremendous excited,” the 31-year-old Reed instructed the streamed protection of the ultimate day on YouTube which attracted 100,000 viewers at its peak.
“Being a part of the evolution and alter in golf is unbelievable. Portland cannot get right here quickly sufficient.”
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