Australian star Cameron Smith is in the driver’s seat to collect a $US18 million ($A28 million) payday if can hold onto the season-long individual points lead through the end of this week’s LIV Golf Jeddah event in Saudi Arabia.
For the finale to the LIV Golf’s regular season starting this Friday, Smith sits atop the Individual standings with 170 points, while Talor Gooch is second with 162 points and DeChambeau at 146 points. The trio are the only players among LIV’s 48-man roster with a mathematical chance to win the individual title.
Smith, who won the Open at St Andrews and the Players Championship last year before leaving the PGA Tour, has carried his 2022 form into this year. The captain of the all-Aussie Ripper GC team has been arguably LIV’s best and most consistent individual performer. He’s had two wins, in London and Bedminster, as well as six top-10s and eight top-24 points finishes.
Gooch, from the team RangeGoats GC, has three wins, four top 10s and 11 top-24 points finishes. Bryson DeChambeau is third with two wins, five top 10s and 10 top-24 points finishes.
There are multiple scenarios in which Smith can win the massive bonus. Simplest among them is winning the event at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club. He and Gooch are the only two who control their own destiny with a victory, while DeChambeau still needs help even if he wins.
Australians can watch the LIV action starting this Friday on 7Plus.
Here are the various scenarios for Smith, Gooch and DeChambeau to win the title:
CAMERON SMITH WILL WIN THE TITLE IF:
- He wins Jeddah
- He finishes either 2nd or 3rd and Gooch doesn’t win
- He finishes 4th and Gooch finishes no better than 3rd
- He finishes between 5th and 9th, Gooch finishes no better than 4th and DeChambeau doesn’t win
- He finishes either 10th or 11th, Gooch finishes no better than 5th and DeChambeau doesn’t win
- He finishes 12th, Gooch finishes no better than 6th and DeChambeau doesn’t win
- He finishes 13th, Gooch finishes no better than 7th and DeChambeau finishes no better than 3rd
- He finishes 14th, Gooch finishes no better than 8th and DeChambeau finishes no better than 3rd
- He finishes 15th, Gooch finishes no better than 9th and DeChambeau finishes no better than 3rd
- He finishes either 16th or 17th, Gooch finishes no better than 10th and DeChambeau finishes no better than 3rd
- He finishes between 18th and 24th, Gooch finishes no better than 11th and DeChambeau finishes no better than 3rd
- He finishes no better than 25th, Gooch finishes no better than 12th and DeChambeau finishes no better than 3rd
TALOR GOOCH WILL WIN THE TITLE IF:
- He wins Jeddah
- He finishes 2nd and Smith finishes no better than 4th
- He finishes 3rd, Smith finishes no better than 5th and DeChambeau doesn’t win
- He finishes 4th, Smith finishes no better than 10th and DeChambeau doesn’t win
- He finishes 5th, Smith finishes no better than 12th and DeChambeau doesn’t win
- He finishes 6th, Smith finishes no better than 13th and DeChambeau finishes no better than 3rd
- He finishes 7th, Smith finishes no better than 14th and DeChambeau finishes no better than 3rd
- He finishes 8th, Smith finishes no better than 15th and DeChambeau finishes no better than 3rd
- He finishes 9th, Smith finishes no better than 16th and DeChambeau finishes no better than 3rd
- He finishes 10th, Smith finishes no better than 18th and DeChambeau finishes no better than 3rd
- He finishes 11th, Smith finishes no better than 25th and DeChambeau finishes no better than 4th
BRYSON DECHAMBEAU WILL WIN THE TITLE IF:
- He wins Jeddah; Smith finishes no better than 5th; Gooch finishes no better than 3rd
- He finishes 2nd; Smith finishes no better than 13th; Gooch finishes no better than 6th
- He finishes 3rd; Smith finishes 25th or worse; Gooch finishes no better than 11th
