Bolingbrook, USA – South Africa’s Dean Burmester clinched the LIV Golf Chicago title on Sunday, sinking a six-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole to defeat Spaniards Jon Rahm and Josele Ballester at the Bolingbrook Golf Club.
Playoff Drama Seals Victory
Burmester, who had started his final round with a shaky three bogeys, battled back to shoot a par-71, finishing the 54-hole tournament tied with Rahm and Ballester at nine-under 204.
The decisive moment came on the par-four 18th hole in the playoff. While Ballester’s approach landed 12 feet from the hole and 2024 Chicago winner Rahm’s ball was 10 feet away, Burmester, despite finding the rough off the tee, managed to drop his approach shot within six feet. With both Ballester and Rahm missing their birdie putts, Burmester confidently sank his to claim the victory.
A Rollercoaster Final Round
The final round was a true shootout, with the lead changing hands multiple times. Burmester’s strong start to the tournament saw him take a two-shot overnight lead, but his early bogeys on Sunday quickly erased that advantage. He rebounded with a birdie at the fifth hole, putting him one ahead of Rahm at the turn.
Young talent Josele Ballester, the 2023 European Amateur and 2024 US Amateur champion who only turned professional in June (this being his seventh pro event at age 21), made a strong charge. He birdied the 10th to match Burmester for the lead, and both then birdied the 12th. Mexico’s Carlos Ortiz, who finished fourth individually, joined the co-leaders with birdies on the 13th and 14th.
Ballester briefly held the solo lead after birdying the 14th, but Rahm pulled within one after a birdie on the 15th. When Ballester bogeyed the 15th moments later, the lead was once again shared by Rahm, Ballester, Ortiz, and Burmester. Burmester then seized the solo lead with a four-foot birdie putt on the 16th, only for Ballester (birdie on 18) and Rahm (birdie on 18) to force the playoff with late heroics.
Team Title and Season Standings
In the team competition, Burmester’s Stinger GC also emerged victorious, beating Joaquin Niemann’s Torque GC and Carlos Ortiz’s team in a playoff to claim the team title.
Despite finishing tied for 17th individually at 211, Chile’s Joaquin Niemann, a five-time winner this season, continues to lead the season points standings. Defending season champion Rahm remains in second place as the tour heads into next week’s final individual event in Indianapolis.
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