Despite a rocky start, which saw him bogeying his first the holes, the former Bloemfontein professional steadied himself with key birdies and a final-round 71 to finish at nine-under-par 204, tying with the Spanish duo of Jon Rahm and Joséle Ballester.

All three headed to a playoff. On the first extra hole, while Rahm and Ballester missed their birdie opportunities, Burmester sunk a clutch six-footer to seal the win. His victory came with a winners cheque worth nearly R71 million, matching the LIV Chicago individual championship payout. It was his second individual LIV title after triumphing in Miami in 2024.

The celebrations didn’t stop there. In a rare and electrifying team playoff against Torque GC, Stinger GC’s Charl Schwartzel and Branden Grace both birdied the 18th to secure the team title, completing a thrilling double victory for South Africa’s Stinger squad. It was Stingers’ first tournament win since Tulsa in 2023.

Reflecting on the day, Burmester admitted it was a tough start, but said that winning both the individual and team titles made it extra special.

“I obviously had the dream start — three over through three,” he said, tongue-in-cheek.

“I’m not going to lie, I tend to get down on myself. In that moment, I knew I had a lot more to fight for than just a golf tournament.

Charl Schwartzel and Branden Grace - LIV Golf

“So for me, it was about hanging in there. I made a great up-and-down on four, then a great birdie on five, and that got me going again. I had loads of chances that I didn’t convert and left a lot of putts short.

“When both boys birdied the 18th, I knew I had to make my putt on 18 to win it in regulation. I lagged it up there, they both made theirs, and then I actually got a bit lucky with my tee shot in the playoff — stopping in the rough gave me a fuller shot in. I got the perfect little right bounce, and it finished about six-and-a-half feet away. I read it right-to-left, it went right-to-left, then kicked right and lipped in.

“I was halfway through a fist pump and had to pause for a second go at it. The moment after winning a golf tournament… there’s nothing sweeter.

“And then to have these two guys right behind me, with all three of us birdieing the playoff hole — that’s special.”

The LIV Golf series now heads to Michigan, with the next stop at The Cardinal at Saint John’s in the USA from 22 to 24 August.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport