Il Messaggiere - Varner wins first LIV title at DC event

NYSE - LSE
RBGPF 0% 75.17 $
RYCEF -1.94% 17.56 $
CMSC -1.41% 19.8 $
RELX 0.47% 40.1 $
VOD 0.9% 15.64 $
BTI 0.38% 61.05 $
AZN -0.69% 185.48 $
GSK -1.25% 50.6 $
NGG -0.43% 83.26 $
RIO 0.51% 84.97 $
BCC -1.29% 69.52 $
BCE -0.6% 21.51 $
JRI -1.02% 11.71 $
BP 1.5% 45.26 $
CMSD -0.75% 19.93 $
Varner wins first LIV title at DC event
Varner wins first LIV title at DC event / Photo: Rob Carr - GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP

Varner wins first LIV title at DC event

American Harold Varner III beat South African Branden Grace by a shot to win the LIV Golf Invitational - DC tournament and claim the $4 million prize on Sunday.

Text size:

Varner, who ended 12-under for the three round week, made birdie on his final hole, the par-5 18th at the Trump National course in Sterling, Virginia, to avoid a playoff after Grace had also birdied his final hole, the par-4 second.

The win was the first, as a professional, on American soil for the 32-year-old Varner with his previous victories coming at the Australian PGA in 2016 and the Asian Tour's PIF Saudi International last February.

Varner shot a four-under 68 in his final round after setting the early pace with his superb eight-under 64 on Friday.

Grace had put himself in contention with a fine, bogey-free round of 66 including two birdies on the final three holes.

Chilean Mito Pereira had gone into the final day with a stroke lead but started with back-to-back bogeys and not even his eagle on the 13th could help as he ended with a 71 and two shots off the lead.

Brooks Koepka, who won the PGA Championship last week becoming the first LIV golfer to win a major since the Saudi-backed tour was formed, finished 14th, seven shots behind Varner.

N.Baggi--IM