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LIV Golf Hong Kong brought plenty of firepower on Sunday, as Sergio Garcia and his blazing Fireballs GC not only claimed the top individual honour but also took home the team trophy.
In the process, HyFlyers GC Captain Phil Mickelson showed flashes of that Hall of Fame brilliance we’ve come to expect over the years.
The Fireballs, led by their fearless captain Garcia, backed up last month’s success at LIV Golf Adelaide with another victory.
Now, they’ll head to LIV Golf Singapore presented by Aramco looking to become the first club to net three consecutive wins since the league went to a 14-tournament format in 2023.
Garcia himself delivered a pristine 7-under 63 to finish at 18 under for the week, three shots clear of Dean Burmester, whose sizzling 62 stood as the day’s low round. Garcia, who finished third in last season’s Individual Championship race, now tops the points standings through the first three events of 2025.
The 45-year-old Spaniard arrived at the 18th on Sunday with a comfortable cushion in the individual competition but needed to avoid a slip to prevent a team playoff with Burmester’s Stinger GC.
His lengthy birdie try cosied up to the hole for an easy tap-in, securing the Fireballs’ sixth team title in their storied history and leaving them 10 points ahead of Legion XIII in the season-long chase.
“It was nice to see not only that I was doing well and leading the tournament, but my teammates were playing great,” said Garcia, who follows teammate Abraham Ancer as individual champions in Hong Kong.
“They were keeping us there with a chance to win. Obviously when you can pull the double, it’s a lot sweeter than if it’s just one of them. Very proud of them.”
For a moment, it looked like the Fireballs and Stingers might go into extra holes, until 22-year-old offseason signee Luis Masaveu drained a decisive birdie on his last hole, the par-4 10th. “It feels incredible,” said Masaveu. “…
Very happy for the team to be able to hole that putt and help them.” He shot an even-par 70, with Ancer carding 65 and David Puig posting a spotless 67, giving the Fireballs a three-day total of 37 under—one shot better than the South African Stingers. HyFlyers GC, piloted by Mickelson, shared third place at 34 under with Cameron Smith’s Ripper GC, the reigning Team Champions.
Individually, Mickelson soared to solo third with a 64, finishing at 14 under. It’s the 54-year-old’s first podium finish since joining LIV Golf in 2022. With golf’s first major of the season right around the corner at Augusta National, his timing couldn’t be better.
“The fact is, I’m hitting a lot of good shots. I’m playing some good golf,” said Mickelson, a three-time Masters winner.
“This is a building week as I continue to build into LIV and my goal of accomplishing a win in LIV as well as winning another major or getting ready for Augusta.”
Garcia’s Continuing Masterclass
Garcia, a past Masters champion, has been on a tear for more than a year. Since the start of the 2024 LIV Golf season, he’s captured two wins, posted three runner-up finishes, and racked up 13 top-20s in his last 16 regular-season events—now 10 straight after Hong Kong.
His round on Sunday began with a share of the lead, but he quickly distanced himself by sinking a lengthy eagle putt at the par-5 third, courtesy of a precise 6-iron approach.
“It really got me in a good mood,” Garcia said of his eagle. “I was very focused on what I wanted to do. But obviously when that happens, it gets you going even more.”
Long praised for his ball striking, Garcia’s putter was the real hero at Hong Kong Golf Club.
He ranked third in fewest putts after reverting to one of his trusty old flatsticks.“He’s a machine,” Masaveu said after playing alongside him.
Meanwhile, teammate Ancer—asked if a red-hot Garcia is as good as it gets—simply said, “Yes.”
Mickelson’s Finest LIV Showing
Mickelson’s day ended with a pinpoint approach into the 18th, setting up a tap-in birdie for a 6-under 64. It not only locked down third place but helped the HyFlyers finish tied for third in the team contest.
Brendan Steele fired a 66, Andy Ogletree posted a 69, and Cameron Tringale delivered an even-par 70 on Sunday.
“A great stepping stone for us as we continue to build,” Mickelson said. “We had a great opportunity.
We were up on the leaderboard most of the day, and we fell three shots shy, but we are really starting to hit stride.
All four of us are progressing, and we’re playing like we know we can, we believe we can, and now we’re starting to get some results.”
Once known as golf’s resident short-game wizard, Mickelson admitted to a tough couple of years in that department, but this performance suggests he’s back on track. “I had a rough couple of years,” Mickelson said.
“That was a good round of golf. Really solid,” Burmester said. “I didn’t leave much out there. A couple putts I left in the throat that maybe could have gone in.
Sergio played a hell of a weekend there. I’m just glad I was up there. It was good to get those feelings again. I just kind of had that feeling all week that I was going to be close.”
Masaveu’s Mettle
Though he stumbled with a bogey at the par-5 third and par-3 fifth, then doubled the par-4 sixth, Masaveu’s resolve never wavered.
Knowing his team was in a tight battle, he rolled in a decisive birdie on his final hole (the 10th) to clinch victory.
“Standing on No. 7, I just knew I had to score at least 1-under,” Masaveu said.
“Started playing a little better from there. Then on No. 10 I saw on the screen that I needed to make birdie, so I tried my best, and thankfully I did it.”
“My short game is really sharp now.” He’s missed just one event this season due to injury and has finished with top-24 points in both appearances, currently sitting 12th in the standings.
Burmester Burns Bright
While Garcia stayed on cruise control, Dean Burmester gave it his all with the round of the day—a scorching 8-under 62—for solo second.
Fresh off a win at LIV Golf Miami last year, he was all smiles despite falling short against a flawless Garcia.
“That was a good round of golf. Really solid,” Burmester said. “I didn’t leave much out there. A couple putts I left in the throat that maybe could have gone in.
Sergio played a hell of a weekend there. I’m just glad I was up there. It was good to get those feelings again. I just kind of had that feeling all week that I was going to be close.”
Masaveu’s Mettle
Though he stumbled with a bogey at the par-5 third and par-3 fifth, then doubled the par-4 sixth, Masaveu’s resolve never wavered.
Knowing his team was in a tight battle, he rolled in a decisive birdie on his final hole (the 10th) to clinch victory.
“Standing on No. 7, I just knew I had to score at least 1-under,” Masaveu said.
“Started playing a little better from there. Then on No. 10 I saw on the screen that I needed to make birdie, so I tried my best, and thankfully I did it.”
Burmester might have been denied a shot at a playoff, but even he was impressed: “I saw the young kid Luis make a birdie, and that’s special,” he said. “For a kid like that, that’s awesome. So, kudos to him.”
The Caddie Factor
A year ago, Benji Thompson carried Abraham Ancer’s bag during Ancer’s triumph at the 2024 LIV Golf Hong Kong.
This offseason, Garcia brought Thompson aboard, and now Thompson is 2-for-2 at this venue.
“I’m giving him a nickname. I’m calling him King Kong. He’s the king of Hong Kong,” Garcia said with a grin. “Yeah, he’s got something on this course for sure.”
Rahm Keeps Rolling
Legion XIII Captain Jon Rahm shot a bogey-free 4-under 66 to tie for sixth at 11 under, continuing his run of finishing inside the top 10 in every LIV event he’s completed—except for one WD in Houston last season due to injury.
The Spaniard also extended his under-par streak to 18 rounds, just two shy of Bryson DeChambeau’s all-time league record.
Rahm now looks to keep that momentum alive next week in Singapore.
Final-Round Stat Sheet
- Driving accuracy: Branden Grace, 100% (14/14 fairways)
- Driving distance: Dustin Johnson, 342.8 yards avg.
- Longest drive: Bryson DeChambeau, 378.9 yards (11th hole)
- Greens in regulation: Tom McKibbin, 94.44% (17/18)
- Scrambling: 10 players at 100%, led by David Puig (6/6)
- Putting: Graeme McDowell, 1.33 putts per hole
- Bogey-free rounds: Dean Burmester (62), Sergio Garcia (63), Marc Leishman (65), Richard Bland (65), Jon Rahm (66), Cameron Smith (66), David Puig (67)
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