Cameron Smith’s quest for a $28m payday went horribly wrong in Chicago as the world No.13 finished close to last in his worst outing on the LIV tour since he joined in 2022.
Five weeks after his last-start victory, Smith could have sealed the individual season title with a victory but instead finished 40th in the 48-man field, 13 shots behind winner Bryson DeChambeau. Marc Leishman finished second, just a single shot behind DeChambeau.
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Despite his lacklustre showing, Smith, who has won two LIV events this season, still leads the individual standings with one event to go in Jeddah, Dubai, before the season-ending team championship in Miami.
DeChambeau’s second win of the season, which came on the back of a stunning closing round of eight-under 63, during which he reeled off nine birdies, elevated him to third in the chase to topple Smith.
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“I knew this golf course was gettable,” DeChambeau said.
“I knew that I could have the chance to go low, just with the way I’m driving it and hitting it, putting it as well.
“It just felt like such a unique week because it wasn’t like I putted super great or hit it really great. I just kept it in play and hit it in the right places, and I feel like I took advantage when I needed to.”
Leishman’s effort to come second was his best individual result on the LIV tour, having twice finished in the top three in 12 events in 2023.