The gesture of the American Peter Uihlein says it all. His push went to the left and hit a man in the back. Photo: Capture.
The last day of the first Saudi Super League golf tournament, the controversial Series by invitation LIV, crowned Carl Schwartzel as champion. The South African will go down in history as the first winner of a tournament that by dint of millions and millions of dollars seems to give a blow to the traditional PGA Tour. Even if the “coup” this Saturday was taken by a spectator.
It is that beyond Schwartzel’s coronation, who will receive a check for $ 4 million, one of the bills of the day was given by a fanatic, who was stationed next to a fairway enjoy a day of sunshine, fresh air and good golf. Until the American appeared on the tee Peter Uihlein32 years old, professional since 2011 and with a career without great brilliance or performance to highlight.
The New Bedford, Massachusetts native squeezed his arm on the first of the seventh 405-yard hole as soon as he saw his thrust fly he raised his arm to the left aware that his shot was going somewhere not only far but dangerous.
Peter Uihlein, one of the golfers who joined the LIV Invitational Series. Photo: EFE / EPA / NEIL HALL.
“Fore, Fore, Fore …”, Uihlein managed to shout, as heard in the broadcast video. This expression, universally used in the world of golf, serves to warn other players on the field that the ball has been hit and that there is a risk of impact on them. It serves to prevent but in this case it has not given good results.
The ball fell on a group of spectators and ended up knocking down a man in a vest and cap, who fell to the ground doing a pirouette. At that moment the camera immediately hit the golfer, who took his head worried, not for the progress of his personal card, but for the health of the person who received the ball.
To the relief of all present, the person who received the shot managed to get up quickly and followed the alternatives of that 7th hole without serious consequences, also receiving Uihlein’s greeting. That bad start did not end up affecting the good performance of the American, who finished the race in third position.
Schwartzel, the first champion
the South African Carl Schwartzel became the first champion of the new LIV International Golf Series this Saturday by winning the inaugural tournament, played since Thursday at London’s Centurion club, and is the first winner of the $ 4 million (€ 3.7 million) check out of a total of 25 (23 euros) with which the winner of each competition is awarded.
Leader from day one, Schwartzel prevailed in London with 203 total shots (7 under par) and three rounds of 65, 66 and 72. He finished ahead of two compatriots, Hennie du Plessis and Branden Grace, second and third, to one and two shots.
Grace shared third place with American Peter Uihlein. After them the English Sam Horsfield (-3) and the best of the Spaniards, Adrián Otaegui, finished sixth with -2 tied with another South African, Oliver Bekker.
Carl Schwartzel left with the trophy and a $ 4 million check. Photo: Adrian DENNIS / AFP.
The Stinger GC team, consisting of Schwartzel, du Plessis, Grace and South African colleague Louis Oosthuizen, won the quartet fairway with a total of -22, a margin of 14 over Uihlein Crushers GC, the English Richard Bland, the Phachara Khongwatamai from Thailand and Travis Smyth from Australia.
Among the most illustrious names of the tournament, the American Dustin Johnson was only eighth with -1, while the Spaniard Sergio García did it with +6, and also the American Phil Mickelson, with +10.
Phil Mickelson, the name that made the most noise in the first half of the LIV Invitational Series, even if he did not meet sporting expectations. Photo: REUTERS / Paul Childs.
This first tournament of the LIV International Series is marked by penalties against 17 golfers participating in the Centurion club and who will not be able to participate in the PGA Tour tournaments, due to their affiliation with this ‘Super League’.
The association has announced that all golfers who take part, both now and in the future, will be banned from participating in the championships organized by the PGA.
After the event in the British capital, they will travel to Portland (United States), where the second stage of this circuit will begin on 30 June. The Americans Bryson DeChambeau, Patrick Reed or Pat Pérez will join.
Five more competitions will follow, three in the United States, one in Thailand and one in Saudi Arabia, before the final climax in Miami, with a prize pool of $ 50 million (€ 46.5 million).
With information from EFE
Source: Clarin
