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‘I’m Getting Very Close’: After Making an $85,441 Splash at the US Open, LIV Golf’s Rising Star Opens Up About His Major Debut

Published 06/20/2023, 6:50 AM EDT

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The 2023 US Open drew to an end on Sunday with the PGA Tour’s Wyndham Clark winning his maiden major trophy. Much like the year’s previous two majors, the event at LACC also kept golf fans on the edge of their seats throughout its four-day run.

With the golf world all set to undergo a seismic shift down the road, much of the attention of fans during the US Open was focused on players from LIV Golf. While the Saudi-backed faction failed to replicate their success at Oak Hill, one LIV youngster had a game-changing experience at the major!

Let’s jump in to find out more.

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LIV pro reflects on his US Open experience

Last Thursday, 15 LIV players descended upon the Los Angeles Country Club with their eyes set on a US Open win. As the tournament entered its final two days, ten players remained, with the likes of Phil Mickelson, Mito Pereira, and more having missed the cut.

One of the golfers who managed to stay inside the cutline was LIV’s youngest player, David Puig. At age 21, Puig was also the second-youngest pro behind Tom Kim to make it to the weekend. To make things even better, this was the golfer’s first-ever major appearance!

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So, what lessons did he take back home from the 123rd US Open? “Playing LIV events, I’ve gained a lot of experience. I know I have the game,” said the confident golfer. “I hit it pretty far compared to all these players.” The Torque GC team member, who will next appear in LIV’s Valderrama tournament, is looking forward to what the future has in store for him.

I think I’m getting very close. I’m very excited for the future, for sure,” he shared. The LIV pro shot rounds of 69-73-75-67 to achieve a T39 finish in his first major outing. On Sunday, Puig finished his US Open run with four back-to-back birdies, rolling in from 22 feet, 28 feet, and 14 feet in the process. For his performance, the golfer also took home $85,441 in earnings. Besides Puig, Dustin Johnson, Cam Smith, and more were among the players who had impressive outings at the major competition.

DP World Tour Pro Viciously Attacks Golf Media Over Tarnishing His ‘Personal Brand’ Over a Past LIV Mistake

How did LIV players fare at the major?

After Brooks Koepka‘s win at the PGA Championship last month, many were looking forward to a player from LIV Golf causing another upset at the City of Angels. While they failed to accomplish the feat, several LIV players did come close to nabbing the title.

Cam Smith shot a final round 67 to finish solo fourth at 6-under, four shots behind winner Wyndham Clark. This is Smith’s best US Open performance since his T4 finish in the event’s 2015 edition. With a second consecutive top-10 finish in a major event under his belt, Smith will want to keep the momentum going as he gears up to defend his title at next month’s British Open.

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The only other LIV pro who finished in the top 10 at LACC is Dustin Johnson. Despite kicking things off on a good note with a first-round 64, the 2-time major winner suffered a disastrous quadruple-bogey on his second day. He eventually ended his US Open run with a final round 2-over 72, finishing in a four-way tie for the 10th spot.

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Following stunning performances at the Masters and the PGA Championship, Koepka settled for a T17 finish at the American Open. The 5-time major winner had earlier expressed his disappointment with the turf for the competition.

Bryson DeChambeau, who shot an impressive opening-round 67, failed to keep up in the final three rounds. He then settled for a T20 finish, his best US Open performance since he won the event in 2020.

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Watch This Story: Against All the Odds LIV Golf Attains Yet Another Achievement Shortly After Their $3,000,000,000 Triumph

Which LIV golfer impressed you the most at the US Open? What was your favorite moment from the major? Tell us in the comments!

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Written by:

Abantika Ghosh

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One take at a time

Abantika is a fresh writer at EssentiallySports who was chosen in the recent round of ‘ES Draft’ for her strong passion for golf writing. Even in her early days, Abantika has displayed an impressive ability to cover golf with gripping and insightful stories backed by thorough research. Her inspiration comes from the words of the legendary golfer and flag-bearer of the PGA Tour, Rory McIlroy: "As long as I keep enjoying my golf, then hopefully I'll be able to play well," which motivates her to continue writing engaging pieces.
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Edited by:

Sheldon Pereira

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