Phil Mickelson started his LIV Golf tournament embroiled in gambling allegations and ended it heartbroken as the chance to end his two-year drought slipped away to a Cameron Smith victory over Trump National Bedminster.
Mickelson, who last won professionally in 2021, was nowhere near a victory over the Saudi-backed breakaway he has so vocally supported. And on Sunday he had to wait even longer.
After a self-inflicted implosion on the front nine, the 53-year-old, who was ready for the final day game with Smith, carded a four-over-75 to eventually finish ninth, 11 shots behind the Australian.
It allowed Smith to cruise to an easy win at 12-under, with little to no pressure from the chase pack.
Cameron Smith by raising his trophy after winning the LIV Golf Bedminster at Trump National
The wait continues for Phil Mickelson and his first title since moving to LIV Golf
Mickelson’s collapse came as an even more painful blow after he fired himself into the fray with a second-round 71, blocking the sound of the course.
Just a day before the tournament began, his former gambling partner Billy Walters made allegations of Mickelson’s excessive gambling in an excerpt from his autobiography, “Gambler: Secrets from a Life at Risk,” released Thursday.
But Mickelson, who was warmly welcomed by Donald Trump, didn’t seem to mind fans.
Despite the allegations and a dig from Rory McIlroy, Mickelson didn’t become the villain of this week’s event. At least he became more of a hero during the first two rounds. There was no ridicule. Mickelson was back on top. The fairy tale victory was written and Mickelson followed the plot.
The fans in Bedminster were clearly back in his corner on Sunday with cheers of ‘man of people’ echoing as he made his way around the fairways.
Even from day to six, things seemed to be going smoothly until it was his ball that did the swimming.
Mickelson, who had seen Smith’s lead reduced to three, found the water on the par-three not once, but twice and nearly a third time in seventh, resulting in a map-breaking eight. The off-course turmoil finally seemed to have taken its toll on the southpaw as he cracked.
The horror show on Seven was an excruciating wait, which saw him plummet to the leaderboard into a tie, eight shots behind Smith and definitely out of contention. They were opportunities that even he wouldn’t want to take.
He did try to rally and fired back at nine, but it was too late. The door was already wide open for Smith, who looked like an unavoidable champion at this point.
Smith from Ripper GC celebrates with teammates by spraying a huge champagne bottle
Donald Trump called Smith a “star” when speaking to reporters after an event earlier in the week
Donald Trump told reporters after Thursday’s pro-am that he believed Smith was a star.
“He’s a great guy,” the former president said. “He doesn’t know he’s a star, he’s just a regular guy really. But he’s a big star, he just doesn’t know it. I know a lot of people who are stars and they think they are bigger stars than they are. Cam is a true champion.’
And the 29-year-old backed up the former president’s claim with a ruthless round to claim the LIV Bedminster individual title.
Smith saw his four-shot lead vanish overnight with an errant drive on the first. He missed right off the tee and found the dangerous fat rough at Trump Bedminster. He managed to dig it out to the front of the green, but couldn’t seal the recovery with his chip shot coming up short and leaving him too much work for the par putt.
His stuttering start was followed by another wayward shot on third, putting him in more trouble from which he was unable to recover as his lead was cut.
But the 2022 Open champ dug deep and plowed on to sink five birdies through the remaining 15 holes as he chased his second LIV Golf win.
Anirban Lahiri finished second at five-under, while Patrick Reed, Abraham Ancer and Brandon Grace were close behind in a tie for third at four-under.
Smith’s individual win wasn’t the only victory he tasted with his 12-under helping Ripper GC to victory in the team competition as well.
It was Aussie dominance in Bedminster as the all-Australian team beat the competition to finish with a combined score of 20-under, 11 shots ahead of Crushers GC and Stinger GC.