Dallas recap: Fast-finishing Rippers clinch a third team title to make it 'a great year' in LIV Golf
CARROLLTON, Texas – The all-Australian Ripper GC transformed what had already been a good year into "a great one" with a master class in closing to clinch LIV Golf's biggest team prize at the season-ending Dallas Team Championship on Sunday.
Lucas Herbert reeled off four birdies in his last five holes, Matt Jones rebounded from a double-bogey on 18 with consecutive birdies in his last three and captain Cameron Smith pocketed three birdies in his last six for the Rippers to triumph by three shots.
In the last group out, Smith held firm with a solid par at the tricky 18th to complete a 4-under 68 on another hot day at Maridoe Golf Club, sealing a third team title of the year for the men from Down Under.
Asked afterwards what made the Rippers players such good closers, Smith replied with a smile: "We're Aussies! At no point today did I feel like we were under the pump or had to do anything. There was a genuine feeling within the team that these guys are going to do the best.
"I don't think I'd want any other three guys closing a tournament. That's what our team is about. We've come second a couple times this year, as well, when you think you're going to win. So I think that moment when you get kind of disappointed, getting out here on Sunday and actually doing it makes these moments a lot better."
The Rippers, who had won back-to-back titles in Adelaide and Singapore earlier in the year, posted a cumulative total of 11-under 277 in the strokeplay format on the last day, finishing three strokes better than 4Aces GC and Iron Heads GC.
However, it proved to be a dramatic final round as the leaderboard fluctuated wildly hole by hole. The Rippers established an early three-shot lead over the Iron Heads at 6-under, after seven holes, but then trailed the 4Aces by one with nine to play.
Ripper GC again forged ahead by one with four holes to go after Herbert drained a 43-footer for birdie at the par-4 15th. However, a few moments later, after Jones double-bogeyed the 18th, the Rippers were tied at the top with the Iron Heads and 4Aces at 8-under with three holes remaining - before they closed in style.
"Watching the leaderboard today was pretty stressful," said Smith. "I almost wanted to take my eye off it, but I couldn't ... I was so intrigued with what we had to do. I'm so proud.
"There was something in me that was going to tell me that the boys were going to come through. The Gladiator (Herbert), with birdies on four of the last five holes ... pretty unbelievable. Really cool stuff. To be a part of this is unreal, especially with these guys."
The Rippers can certainly look back on a highly successful LIV Golf season. Although they made a slow start to 2024, they caught fire with a third-place finish at LIV Golf Hong Kong in early March before going on to winning in front of their home fans in Adelaide, and also the following week in Singapore.
In their 13 regular season starts, they also recorded two runner-up spots among their five podiums and came into this week as the third seed for LIV Golf's 2024 season finale. The only blemish was the absence of any individual LIV Golf title for the Rippers this year.
"Adelaide was certainly a highlight, but at the moment, this is my highlight for the year," said Leishman, who ended the regular season ranked 15th in the individual points standings. "To dig ourselves out of that hole yesterday and then do what we did today and be able to enjoy that last hole after Cam hit the fairway on 18, that was special. This is so cool -- right now is my favorite moment of the year."
The Rippers did well to battle past Fireballs GC in Saturday's semifinals, winning 2-1 after Leishman and Herbert both had to rally to beat their opponents in singles.
Smith and Jones had already lost 3 & 1 to Fireballs GC captain Sergio Garcia and Abraham Ancer but Leishman made a clutch par putt to beat Eugenio Chacarra on the first extra hole after Herbert had rallied with three consecutive winning holes down the stretch to edge David Puig 1 up.
"It's tough to beat winning in Australia, but to win here with these boys and what Leish and Herby did yesterday to get us to this point to give us a chance, it's tough to beat this one," said Jones. "We looked down and out. For us to come back and do it today the way we did, I'd probably say this one right now."
For Leishman, Sunday's Team Championship victory made it a dream season for the Rippers.
"Winning today turned it into a great year," said the 40-year-old from Warrnambool in Victoria. "I don't think I've ever won three events, team events. I don't think I've ever won three professional events in a year. Obviously we all would have liked to have thrown in an individual win, no doubt about that.
"But if you had have said you're going to win twice during the season and then win the Team Championship but none of you are going to win individually, I think I would have taken it. Just to be able to celebrate with these boys is pretty special. It's something that you don't normally get to do in golf, but here you do, and it's pretty awesome."