[Photo: LIV Golf]
Australia’s Cameron Smith has blown his shot at snapping a three-year winless run as American tyro Michael La Sasso upstaged two superstars to snatch LIV Golf’s season-ending title in Indianapolis.
After starting the final round just one stroke off the lead, Smith’s Sunday challenge all but evaporated with a dispiriting and uncharacteristic three-putt bogey on the very first hole.
Five dreary hours later Smith signed for a lacklustre two-over-par 72 to slump to a share of 17th at 10 under for the championship.
The one-time world No.2 didn’t even finish as the leading Australian.
That honour belonged to Marc Leishman, who fired a final-round 67 to finish joint 10th at 12 under, with Lucas Herbert’s sizzling 64 vaulting him to equal 17th with Smith.
As Smith collapsed, multiple-major-winning golf titans Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau emerged as third-round leader La Sasso’s biggest threats.
At one point, Rahm and DeChambeau looked to be duelling for the title as La Sasso slipped two shots behind.
But the 22-year-old rallied to snare the trophy with a birdie at the par-5 18th in a steely closing round of 65 to prevail at 18 under.
Rahm opened the door for La Sasso with a bogey on his last hole of the day, the par-4 first, in an otherwise dazzling, birdie-filled final-round 63.
“I don’t even know what to say,” La Sasso said after collecting the $US2 million winner’s cheque.
“I thought I played great all day and just waited for my moment and it finally came at the last.
“It’s unbelievable. I’m at a loss for words.”
