LIV Golf finished the year in dramatic fashion with the Promotions event, which offered three spots on its circuit for the 2024 season.
Going right down to the wire in a playoff in Abu Dhabi, it was Kalle Samooja, Kieran Vincent and Jinichiro Kozuma who earned the right to play on the lucrative LIV Golf circuit next year, although only Samooja avoided what was a nerve-shredding playoff.
The Finn made a crucial birdie at 17, before a superb two putt on 18 put him out of reach at -8: “I can’t wait to get home – wife and three boys waiting at home,” said a tearful Samooja shortly after tapping in from a few inches. “I’m very proud. It’s a big step forward in my career.”
More tears would follow after a topsy-turvy playoff, with Vincent, Kozuma and Laurie Canter all making pars down 18 in very different ways, which meant that they would need to replay it once more in the fading light.
Canter blew a glorious opportunity to seal his return to LIV when he three-putted from 45 feet, at which point things started to unravel for the Englishman.
His second playoff drive down 18 was leaked to the right and, although he avoided the water, he was left with an awful rocky, downhill lie. Despite the odds appearing to be stacked against him, Canter took the bold option of going for the green, but his ball ended up nose-diving into the water, and although he gave himself a glimmer of hope with a delightful fifth shot from the sand, it wasn’t enough.
With Vincent remaining calm to stroke in a birdie putt from about eight feet, Kozuma was left sweating over a putt of a similar length. The Japanese player would have expected Canter to have made his six from about five feet, but when he missed, the pressure was off, and Kozuma didn’t need two bites at the cherry.
It brought to an end a remarkable period of play and although a playoff looked likely all day, few would have predicted such a dramatic finale on 18. “Words can’t put it together,” Vincent just about managed to get out. “It’s going to be awesome.”
LIV GOLF PROMOTIONS SCORES
- -8 SAMOOJA
- -7 VINCENT*, KOZUMA*, CANTER (playoff winners)
LIV GOLF PROMOTIONS QUICK LINKS
Updates from...
SAMOOJA LEADING THE WAY
Kalle Samooja is the man leading the way at the moment. The world number 286 from Finland sits at -7. The 2022 European Open champion opens with a solid par.
TIGHT AT THE TOP
We have Samooja leading at -7, two players at -5 and then a real scrap for the next spot, with eight players under par. You can already see this going the distance. It's got a Q-School feel, only the three players that make it today are going to receive a licence to print money on LIV Golf.
CHAPPELL LURKING
It's a real international leaderboard at the moment, featuring plenty of names a lot of causal golf viewers won't be familiar with. However, there's a guy at -3 who has a made a lot of cash on the PGA Tour. Kevin Chappell is looking pretty handy. The 37-year-old, who's now ranked 565th in the world, has a lot of experience.
SUPPORT FOR RAHM
Amazing to have @JonRahmpga join LIV. So happy for him and his family. Excited to compete with you once again my man and continue to play with the best players in the world.December 7, 2023
Rahm has received a lot of criticism for joining LIV Golf, the start-up league which continues to divide opinion. Bryson DeChambeau, however, can't wait to lock horns with the Spaniard.
It's quick out there
No-one is hanging around out there, which is good to see. The leaders have been playing less than an hour and they're already onto the 5th - big fan of the pace of play. No danger this isn't done well before Luton Town versus Man City at 2pm, perhaps Samooja is a Hatters fan.
CANTER TO -6
Huge putt from the Englishman on 6 - gets it to -6. Things are sure to get edgy on the back nine with so much to play for.
LEADER WITH TROUBLE ON 6
Samooja's tee shot leaks to the right. It sounded thin - certainly not his best strike. It's not wet, but he will have tree trouble.
What they're all playing for
Here's a reminder of what they're all playing for at LIV Promotions this week.
NO JOY FOR BHULLAR
One player who won't be playing his trade on LIV next year is Gaganjeet Bhullar, who sits way back on +3. However, thumbs up here for sticking with the pants - one of the few players to do so.
CANTER HITS THE TOP
The Englishman has recorded back-to-back birdies to take the lead at -7. Canter is looking to bounce back straight away and regain his place on LIV. Two big putts and he's right back where he wants to be - leads by one.
TEAM NAME TALK FOR RAHM
What with the Spaniard joining LIV, the discussion has turned to his team name. What a difference a week makes in golf! It's going to be strange seeing Rahm wearing a different shirt, like your favorite player running out for the new season in a different jersey. Strange time in men's professional golf right now. Divided, fractured... doesn't look or feel very good. Hopefully things will begin to work out in 2024, but it sounds as though a lot of fans have already turned their back on the professional game.
Anyway, that debate can wait. Time to focus on the battle for those three golden tickets...
PAR PUTT MISSED
Canter drops back to -7, His par putt of around 10 feet grazes the edge of the cup. The Englishman is now joint leader with Baucho.
NEW LEADER
Zach Bauchou hit the front with a birdie on 12. No one is breaking clear at the moment, but can the American put some breathing space between him and the chasing pack?
Canter, who's just made his first bogey of his final round, looking to respond immediately, gives himself a chance at 13.
GREG IN THE BOOTH
LIV commissioner is in the commentary booth championing the LIV product. It's all a little over-exuberant, as is the commentary so far. Everything is "awesome" and "life changing".
HARD TO CALL
We're into the back nine and you still couldn't name one player who has their LIV place guaranteed - it's that close, which should make for a thrilling 90 minutes.
DOUBLE BOGEY FROM THE LEADER
How costly could that be? Bauchou makes a double on the 13th, missing a slippery 3-footer to drop just the one shot. He's now on the outside looking in. Ouch.
NEW LEADER, CANTER WOBBLING
Two bogeys in his last three holes and Laurie Canter finds himself having a wobble just when he was looking in control. It's now Vincent who leads. How will he deal with that pressure? No one seems to want to have the lead right now.
AS IT STANDS....
Kieran Vincent, Jaco Ahlers and Laurie Canter are the three players who would gain entry to LIV if the final whistle were to blow right now. However, still a looooooong way to go. So much chopping and changing at the moment. Can't believe that's going to change as the pressure mounts over the last half a dozen holes in Abu Dhabi.
AHLERS WITH A SHOCKER
A huge shove right from close range and Ahlers is the latest player to show his nerves. The South African drops back to six under. Even Greg Norman gasps after seeing that one.
AHLERS RESPONDS!
Ahlers responds with a putt of some 45-feet to get that dropped shot back immediately - he's straight back to -7.
THE "COMMISH"
Here he is... the man they're calling "Commish" in the commentary booth - otherwise known as Greg Norman. Greg is currently talking about how golf fans back home in Australia are starting to get Rippers GC tattoos. Maybe in time that actually won't sound ridiculous.
kozuma in the hunt
Jinichiro Kozuma makes birdie on 12 to get his core to -6. He's right on the fringe right now, as is Kalle Samooja (-6), Proom Saksansin (-5) and Zach Bauchou (-5).
IT'S GETTING EDGY
We're starting to see a lot of poor shots, which is understandable. I was going to say it feels like the last few holes of a Major, but that's often when you see the best players in the world produce their best stuff. Some of these guys are on the verge of changing their lives - and it's starting to show. Vincent, the current leader at -8, has hit a wedge very fat and his lie in the sand is truly awful. He does it well to get it onto the putting green.
LET'S JUST HEAD TO A PLAYOFF!
We all know it's going to end in a playoff - we may as well all head to 18 with these five: Kozuma, Canter, Vincent, Ahlers and Samooja. Who's your money on? We're into the last four holes.
5 PLAYERS, 3 CARDS
It's looking like -5 won't be enough - so Zach Baucho looks to have come up short. That leaves Kozuma (-7, 16); Canter (-7, 16); Vincent (-7, 16); Ahlers (-6, 17); and Samooja (-6, 15) battling it out for the three golden tickets.
ALLERS FINISHES -6
I'm not sure that's going to be enough. Kozuma, Canter and Vincent are in pole position at -7 right now. He's going to need some help from the leaders, who are playing the last two holes.
SAMOOOOOOJA!
What a time to hole a lengthy putt, Samooja drains one at -7 - so the playoff looks back on.
KOZUMA FOR THE LIV SPOT....
Misses! Grazes the edge from 10 feet - and he's in the house at -7. A matter of millimetres, that's all it was. That putt looked so good. So, we have Kozuma and Canter both in at -7, with Vincent and Samooja playing 18, both -7.
SAMOOJA STEPS UP
The second into 18 is very good. Two putts from distance and the Finn will earn his LIV status/order a new car. That was as good a strike with a fairway wood as you could wish for in the circumstances. Meanwhile, his playing partner, Vincent, is struggling up 18, playing his third from the rough.
Vincent hits a superb third, however, and gives himself a birdie opportunity - he'll have a 20-footer, maybe a bit less, to grab his golden ticket to LIV.
SAMOOJA FOR THE LIV CARD
Eagle from 70 feet. Welcome to LIV Golf... that's superb, what a putt! Rolls it up to a matter of inches. He's the first man of three to secure his place on LIV... (-8)
WE HAVE A PLAYOFF
Vincent has a go at his 20-footer, but it misses. We'll be heading back to 18. There are two LIV spots lefts and three players competing for them: Canter, Kozuma and Vincent.
WE HAVE LIGHTS!
25 minutes of daylight left but no need to panic - we have floodlights on the 18th. I've got a feeling we're going to need them.
KOZUMA LOOKS WET
And it's not champagne. It looks as though he's gone into the water on 18.
VINCENT GOES LEFT
Vincent responds by going way left - it hits the cart path. Troubles.
DRAMA, WHAT DRAMA
Vincent has a lie. Meanwhile, Canter and Kozuma seem to be debating the entry point. It's not a heated exchange by any means, but it's crucial that they get this right. What was the curvature on the ball as it entered the water?
KOZUMA WALKING BACK
Kozuma has walked back a bit further. Everyone appears to be in agreement. It changes his next shot, which is really not very easy. I'd go as far to say his race is run.
CANTER IN POLE POSITION
Laurie Canter finds the green with a beautifully struck fairway wood from the 270-yard range. Two putts from 60-70 feet and it's hard not to see him playing LIV next year.
KOZUMA STILL FIGHTING
His fourth from about 100 yards rolls out to about 10 feet.
CANTER LEAVES 5 FEET
Laurie Canter knows a four will be enough. It's not a simple two-putt, but one every Tour player would back themselves to make. It comes up short... a good five feet short! Nasty length.
Kozuma battles on!
Vincent makes a par. Over to you, Kozuma... makes it! That was so clutch. Now for Canter's birdie putt...
CANTER THREE PUTTS!
There looked to be a little bit of decel there - all three will head back to 18. You won't see three different pars.... ever! The lights are now on.
Here we go again
Kozuma changes club and hits a 3-wood, which finds a bunker. Canter, whose head must be spinning after that three-putt, hits driver right. Vincent opts for the 3-wood, and pulls it. It looks as though he's Ok, though.
THE DRAMA CONTINUES
Canter is dry... just, by a few inches. However, he has a rocky lie. This could be dangerous!
SHOT OF THE DAY CONTENDER
Vincent from the rough - must of had a decent lie - flushes it onto the green. A long putt for eagle coming up, but now he's in pole position.
LAURIE HAS GONE
What a horrid 20 minutes for Laurie Canter. He catches a rock on what was already an awful hard lie, on a downslope. He advances the ball about 80 yards but it's one of those strikes that has a nose dive look to it, and you can hear it splash fairly quickly. Ugly stuff.
Right, so he takes a drop. It's a layup and that falls into the sand. You'd have to say that it's all over for Laurie.
CANTER RELYING ON A THREE-PUTT
Kozuma needs to three-putt from some 40 feet, otherwise that'll likely be it for Canter. To his credit, Canter has played a very good bunker shot to give himself a glimmer of a hope. Pressure now on Kozuma.
Canter with a must make... misses
Canter is still alive. Kozuma has raced his first putt eight feet by. Vincent steps in to make birdie - job done for him. He's now a LIV player. Canter now... misses. A really disappointing way to finish for him. Kozuma left with two putts from eight feet, just needs one.... that's it!