Carlos Ortiz Archives - Golf Digest Middle East

Ortiz signs with Torque GC, Puig joins Fireballs GC for 2024 LIV Season

Golf Digest Middle East — Wed, 06 Dec 2023 15:12:09 +0000

Free agents Carlos Ortiz and David Puig are switching Spanish-speaking teams for the 2024 LIV Golf League season, with Ortiz signing to play with Torque GC while Puig joins Fireballs GC.

Although the moves were announced Tuesday afternoon at the same time, it is not a trade since both players were free agents and able to sign with new teams.

Ortiz had been a member of Sergio Garcia’s Fireballs team ever since joining LIV Golf for the second event of the beta-test 2022 season. This year, he was the Fireballs’ top performer, ranking 15th in the season-long Individual points race.

Since Ortiz finished the season inside the top 24 Lock Zone, he was guaranteed a contract extension by the Fireballs. But the 32-year-old from Mexico rejected the offer in order to become a free agent, with Torque Captain Joaquin Niemann inking him to a new contract.

The consistent Ortiz joins a team that includes Sebastián Muñoz of Colombia and Mito Pereira of Chile. Last year, Torque won a league-high four regular-season tournaments but finished a disappointing third at the season-ending Team Championship.

Puig, who turns 22 on Thursday, was the youngest player on any LIV Golf team roster in 2023. His results improved in the second half of the season, with three top-12 points finishes in the last seven regular-season events, and he began making more appearances near the top of the leaderboard.

“Excited about this news,” Garcia posted on his X account. “David brings all the charisma and power to his golf.”

The big-hitting Spaniard, who ranked fifth in driving distance in 2023, broke through with his first professional win in October at the Asian Tour’s International Series Singapore. It was a dominant performance, as he went wire-to-wire and held a nine-shot lead through three rounds before cruising to a five-stroke victory.

Puig ended the season ranked 31st in LIV Golf’s individual standings, leaving him in the Open Zone as a free agent.

By adding Puig to the lineup, the Fireballs now have LIV Golf’s two youngest players along with 23-year-old Eugenio Chacarra. With Garcia as the captain, the Fireballs’ lineup consists of three players from Spain along with Mexico’s Abraham Ancer.

Image: LIV Golf

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How they stand — the LIV Golf individual standings ahead of fourth event at The International outside Boston

Matt Smith — Fri, 02 Sep 2022 06:41:55 +0000

Dustin Johnson at the LIV Golf Invitational Series Boston. LIV Golf

By Matt Smith
With three events done, and the fourth one beginning on Friday at The International in Bolton, outside Boston, Massachusetts, the individual race is hotting up.

WATCH the LIV Golf action live here!

The inaugural Series includes a season-long points race to crown the Individual Champion. Each of the seven regular-season events will award points based on individual leaderboard results. The top three players in ranking points will receive prize bonuses from the $30 million purse, with the Individual Champion receiving the top bonus of $18 million.

Branden Grace with the LIV Golf Portland trophy

Top 20 through 3 events

1. BRANDEN GRACE 70 points (London 24, Portland 40, Bedminster 6)
2. DUSTIN JOHNSON 54 (London 12, Portland 18, Bedminster 24)
3. CARLOS ORTIZ 48 (Portland 30, Bedminster 18)
4. CHARL SCHWARTZEL 42 (London 40, Bedminster 2)
5. MATTHEW WOLFF 42 (Portland 12, Bedminster 30)
6. HENRIK STENSON 40 (Bedminster 40)
7. PATRICK REED 40 (Portland 24, Bedminster 16)
8. TALOR GOOCH 34 (London 11, Portland 13, Bedminster 10)
9. HENNIE DU PLESSIS 30 (London 30)
10. LOUIS OOSTHUIZEN 25 (London 7, Portland 16, Bedminster 2)
11. SAM HORSFIELD 24 (London 16, Portland 5, Bedminster 3)
12. JUSTIN HARDING 20 (London 8, Portland 11, Bedminster 1)
13. PETER UIHLEIN 18 (London 18)
14. JINICHIRO KOZUMA 17 (London 3, Portland, 14)
15. ADRIAN OTAEGUI 15 (London 14, Portland 1)
16. PAUL CASEY 14 (Bedminster 14)
17. SERGIO GARCIA 14 (London 1, Bedminster 13)
18. LEE WESTWOOD 14 (Portland 3, Bedminster 11)
19. OLIVER BEKKER 13 (London 13)
20. MARTIN KAYMER 13 (London 4, Portland 2, Bedminster 7)

HOW IT WORKS

Here is the individual points system for each regular-season event. First place is worth 40 points, and only the top 24 players — half of the 48-man field — receive points.

IN CASE OF TIES

Unlike for prize money purposes, there are no ties for individual points.
1. Ties per event are decided by one of the following, in the order they appear:
Final round score
Better back-9 (as per the card rather than the player’s finishing 9 holes).
Last 6 holes
Last 3 holes
Final hole
Last 36 holes
2. Total Number of Points Ties for rankings are decided by one of the following, in the order they appear:
Best finish in an event
2nd best finish in an event
3rd best finish in an event
And so on (4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th best finish)

INDIVIDUAL SEASON BONUS PURSE

Only the top three finishers at the end of the seven-event regular season will receive bonuses from the $30 million purse.
1st: $18 million
2nd: $8 million
3rd: $4 million

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Carlos Ortiz reportedly withdraws name from LIV Golf players’ antitrust suit against the PGA Tour

Golf Digest Middle East — Wed, 10 Aug 2022 05:39:34 +0000

By Ryan Herrington
The LIV Golf 11 that filed an antitrust lawsuit against the PGA Tour on August 3 is now the LIV 10. According to multiple reports, Carlos Ortiz has withdrawn himself from the litigation.

“Carlos does not want to be involved in any legal battles,” Carlos Rodriguez, Ortiz’s manager, told the Associated Press via text. “He is thankful for the opportunity he had to play on the PGA Tour and Korn Ferry Tour the last few years.”

Ortiz joined LIV ahead of its second event at Pumpkin Ridge outside Portland, Oregon, and was subsequently suspended after playing in the tournament. Ortiz also played in the LIV event at Trump Bedminster two weeks ago. In his two LIV starts, Ortiz has made $3.175 million. During the 2020-21 season on the PGA Tour, he made $2,682,104 in 28 starts.

The remaining players involved in the suit, all suspended by the PGA Tour after their participation in LIV Golf events, include Phil Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau, Ian Poulter, Abraham Ancer, Pat Perez, Jason Kokrak and Peter Uihlein. The other three players in the lawsuit — Talor Gooch, Hudson Swafford and Matt Jones — on Tuesday failed in their attempt to receive a temporary restraining order that would allow them to play the FedEx Cup Playoffs, which begin on Thursday at the FedEx St Jude Championship in Memphis.

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LIV Golf Bedminster takeaways as Stenson surges, Wolff swing shift and Westwood’s revival

Matt Smith — Mon, 01 Aug 2022 07:01:52 +0000

By Matt Smith
While Henrik Stenson was surging to a LIV Golf debut title at Trump National Bedminster in New Jersey, there were plenty of other talking points out on the course. Here is a little run-through:

Wolff in the swing

Matthew Wolff started the day seven strokes off the pace but was the only player who mounted a significant charge in the final round. His bogey-free seven-under 64 left him at nine-under, two strokes behind winner Stenson.
Thanks to the tiebreaker rule, Wolff was awarded second place on the podium ahead of Dustin Johnson.
Wolff, who made his LIV Golf debut in Portland and plays for Phil Mickelson’s Hy Flyers team, credited a recent swing tweak as the difference-maker. He said it involved leaving his hands at the top a little longer so that he doesn’t get too quick and hit it left.
“Kind of got a swing thought earlier this week that I was feeling really good with, so just kind of stuck with it,” Wolff said on Sunday. “Feel like I hit it good all week, even the first two days. Just putts didn’t drop, and I got a couple of bad breaks. Today, it came together.”
Thanks to Wolff’s play, Hy Flyers were able to make a push in the team standings. They fell just short of the podium, behind Dustin Johnson’s 4 Aces, Stenson’s Majesticks and Sergio Garcia’s Fireballs.

WATCH: LIV Golf highlights

Westwood rolls back the years

Majesticks skipper Lee Westwood was excellent all weekend from tee-to-green at Bedminster, as he led the field in fairways hit (88 per ent) and greens in regulation (78 per cent).
So impressive was his play that one of his playing partners, Cleeks captain Martin Kaymer — who had been in the same group as Westwood for two of the three rounds — turned to the veteran Englishman on Sunday and said, “That was a joy to watch.”
Westwood responded. “That was nice of him to say. So yeah, I’m playing well. Look forward to the rest of the year.”
Westwood finished at four-under and a tie for sixth. While pleased with his ball-striking, he knows one part of his game prevented him from getting in the mix Sunday.
“I could not buy a putt,” Westwood said with a wry smile.

Carlos Ortiz. LIV Golf

Ortiz firing once again

Carlos Ortiz made his LIV Golf debut in Portland and finished second. At Bedminster, he finished solo fourth. And in both events, his Fireballs team finished third.
Suffice to say it’s been a productive couple of starts for the Mexico native, who provided the dramatic clinching putt for Fireballs on the final hole in Portland.
“I’ve never had this much fun in a golf tournament,” Ortiz said after his three-under 68 on Sunday. “It’s unbelievable.”
Too far behind Stenson to push for the individual trophy, Ortiz knew he needed to stay sharp since Fireballs were trying to hold off a late charge from Hy Flyers in the team event.
“I had no chance with the way Henrik was playing but I knew it was close for third place,” Ortiz said. “That really pushed me.”

What they said

Henrik Stenson: “I think there might have been a little bit of extra motivation in there this week. When we as players have that, I think we can bring out the good stuff. Yeah, I certainly did that this week. I guess that’s been a bit of a theme over the course of my career, I think, when I really want something I manage to dig a little bit deeper, and a lot of times we manage to make it happen.
Lee Westwood (on Stenson): “Not a bad way to start your LIV Golf career, is it? Think he’s been playing quite well recently but not getting the results. It was a good time for him to play well again.”

Round 3 stats

Driving distance -– Paul Casey, 338.8 yards average
Longest drive – Paul Casey, 360 yards
Driving accuracy – Louis Oosthuizen, 93 per cent (13 of 14 fairways)
Greens in regulation – Lee Westwood, 94 per cent (17 of 18 greens)
Scrambling – Matthew Wolff, 100 per cent (4 of 4)
Fewest putts – Sergio Garcia, 23
Putts in GIR – Matt Jones, 1.42
Eagles made – Matthew Wolff (10th hole), Brooks Koepka (10th), Justin Harding (15th hole)
Bogey-free round – Matthew Wolff (64)
Easiest hole – 590-yard par-5 8th, which played to a stroke average of 4.500.
Hardest hole – 185-yard par-3 7th, which played to a stroke average of 3.354.

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WATCH: Highlights of the dramatic finale to LIV Golf Invitational Series — Portland

Matt Smith — Sun, 03 Jul 2022 14:15:28 +0000

By Matt Smith
Take a look at the dramatic final day of the second LIV Golf Invitational Series event at Portland, Oregon, where South Africa’s Branden Grace overhauled Dustin Johnson and Carlos Ortiz to claim the top prize, and DJ’s Four Aces claimed the team title.

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LIV Golf Invitational Series — Portland: Branden Grace keeps the South African run going at Portland to upstage Dustin Johnson

Matt Smith — Sun, 03 Jul 2022 09:55:13 +0000

By Matt Smith
For the second consecutive LIV Golf Invitational, it was a South African celebration as Branden Grace shot 65 in the final round. In London, it produced a third-place podium finish for the 35-year-old, behind compatriots Charl Schwartzel and Hennie du Plessis. In Portland, it resulted in the biggest payday of his 15-year professional career.

Grace’s seven-under 65 on Saturday at Pumpkin Ridge gave him the individual title at the LIV Golf Invitational Portland. His 13-under total for the 54-hole event was two strokes better than Carlos Ortiz, with Patrick Reed and Dustin Johnson finishing another two strokes back.

Watch Day 3 highlights below

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Johnson’s 4 Aces GC claimed the team title at 23-under, seven strokes ahead of Stinger GC, the winning team in London. Thanks to Ortiz’s birdie on the final hole, Fireballs GC took third place and the final money position, one stroke ahead of Torque GC.

Grace has found his form since joining LIV Golf. He follows countryman Schwartzel in the winner’s circle, with Schwartzel having claimed the inaugural event at Centurion Club.

In winning, Grace claimed the $4 million individual prize, as well as a quarter-share of the $1.5 million second-place prize won by Stinger GC, making his total payout Saturday at $4.375 million. For the two LIV Golf events, he’s now won $6.4 million.

“I played with DJ at London, as well, on the Sunday and played really nicely, and just kind of found a groove,” said Grace after winning for the 15th time as a pro. “I’ve been feeling really comfortable. I’ve been hitting the shots that I see and things like that, and that’s really important and gives you the confidence.

“Today was nothing different. From the first hole I hit the ball great. I made a couple of nice putts when it mattered, and obviously things go your way when you win a golf tournament.”

Ortiz and Johnson simply couldn’t keep up. Ortiz, who at one point held a five-shot lead, shot a three-under 69, while Johnson shot a one-under 71.

“Obviously Branden played really well,” Johnson said. “But I did get it back to where I was within one with six or seven holes to go, and then he decided to go on a little tear there birdieing every hole coming in.”

Debutant Ortiz from Mexico enjoyed the vibe in playing in the last group. He said he fed off the energy from the fans at Pumpkin Ridge.

“They were unbelievable — I didn’t even know there were that many Mexicans in Portland,” joked Ortiz. “It was unbelievable. I haven’t had that many opportunities to be in final groups maybe like DJ, but it was crazy from the beginning. Both sides of the fairway were full of people, until the end, putting the ropes behind us. It was great. Being able to fight it out with Gracey, we were kind of in there until he decided to just keep going and left us behind. It was awesome. We had a great time.”

An ???????? final day in Portland

Catch all the highlights from today's action https://t.co/VEzTMKR3GT #LIVGolf

— LIV Golf (@LIVGolfInv) July 3, 2022

Although Johnson didn’t make the individual podium – he lost the third-place tiebreaker to Reed – he was happy to see his 4 Aces GC romp to the team title. The other two members are Talor Gooch, whose two-under 70 score counted, and Pat Perez, whose eight-over 80 on Saturday did not contribute to the team score. Perez shot a three-under 69 on Thursday to help the 4 Aces get out to an early tournament lead.

“The fans were electric from start to finish,” Johnson said. “I mean, there was a ton of energy out there, obviously coming down 17 and 18. Would have liked to have been a little bit closer to Branden finishing, but obviously he played unbelievable today and deserved everything with the way he played. But I thought the fans and the crowd were absolutely amazing.”

LIV Golf returns to action July 29-31 at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster in New Jersey.

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Dustin Johnson powers to the top at LIV Golf Portland

Matt Smith — Sat, 02 Jul 2022 11:06:59 +0000

By Matt Smith
Dustin Johnson made a statement in the United States as he took command of the second LIV Golf Invitational Series event in Portland, Oregon.

The South Carolina native may be used to life on the east coast of the States, but he has made Oregon his home from home for the week as he matched his opening opening-round 68 on Saturday to take his perch at the top of the leaderboard alongside debutant Carlos Ortiz on eight-under.

The South Africans, who dominated the opening LIV Golf round at Centurion in England, ensured they were still in with a shout, as Branden Grace sits two strokes back on six-under, with compatriot Justin Harding one more stroke further back in fourth.

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DJ was delighted for some home support to help him along the way.

“I think the fans have been great,” he said after the players all finished up after a shotgun start. “They seem really excited. Obviously pretty big turnout, a lot of fans out there.

“I had the lead for a little while today, but yeah, still can feel it. Obviously it’s a big tournament, playing against a lot of great players, and if you want to win, you’re going to have to play really well.”

With $25 million on the line for the players this week, everyone will be giving there all in Saturday’s final round at Pumpkin Ridge.

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LIV Golf Invitational Series: New boy Carlos Ortiz leads the way in Portland from Dustin Johnson and Pat Perez

Matt Smith — Fri, 01 Jul 2022 08:26:21 +0000

By Matt Smith
New face Carlos Ortiz was the toast of Portland on Thursday as the Mexican upstaged Dustin Johnson to take a one-stroke lead at the LIV Golf Invitational Series.

WATCH: All the action live from Portland

The 31-year-old shot an impressive five-under 67 to lead American 2016 US Open and 2020 Masters champion Johnson in the second of the Saudi-backed series events.

Another new boy and fan favourite Pat Perez it T3 on three-under alongside Japan’s Hideto Tanihara and Branden Grace — the South African finished third in London last time out.

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London runner-up Hennie Du Plessis is T6 on two-under with debutant Brooks Koepka and Australian Wade Ormsby.

Just like in London, there was a festival atmosphere in Oregon as a trio of US Navy Seals parachuted onto the course ahead of the shotgun start, each bearing the Stars and Stripes flag for all to see and confirm LIV Golf’s arrival in the US at Pumpkin Ridge. A bald eagle flew over the driving range and fans chanted U-S-A! (It is Fourth of July weekend, after all.)

The players have been clear in their justification for being here: “I’m here to play golf and entertain the fans. The fans on-site wanted to watch the golf, and they wanted to be entertained. There were fathers and sons. Couples, young and old. Families with young children. It was a similar line from the fans as the players: We’re here to watch the golf.”

There was, however, one isolated incident. On his first hole of the day, Brooks Koepka missed a four-foot putt. A fan yelled “That’s what you get for playing here!” His playing partners and their caddies feared it would be the beginning of an onslaught of heckling. It was the only chirp they heard all day.

Leaderboard

1 Carlos Ortiz (MEX) -5
2 Dustin Johnson (USA) -4
T3 Pat Perez (USA) -3
T3 Hideto Tanihara (JPN) -3
T3 Branden Grace (RSA) -3
T6 Brooks Koepka (USA) -2
T6 Hennie Du Plessis (RSA) -2
T6 Wade Ormsby (AUS) -2

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LIV Golf: Wolff, Chacarra and Ortiz sign up to set field for Portland

Matt Smith — Tue, 28 Jun 2022 05:26:53 +0000

By Matt Smith
LIV Golf has set its field of players for the second leg of its series in Portland Oregon with the announcement of the final three playing spots.

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Rising American star Matthew Wolff joins the ranks, along with World No. 2 amateur Eugenio Chacarra and Mexican favourite Carlos Ortiz . All three will make their LIV Golf debuts on Thursday in Portland at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club, where they will contend for $25 million in prize money.

Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra. NCAA

One of golf’s longest hitters off the tee, the 23-year-old Wolff has quickly established himself among the game’s top competitors. An All-American at Oklahoma State University and winner of the 2019 NCAA Division I individual championship, Wolff then turned pro in 2019 and secured his first professional win less than one month later. He has continued to make an impact within golf’s elite, reaching a career-best No. 12 in the world in October 2020 and earning seven top-10 finishes, including runner-up at the US Open and fourth at the PGA Championship.

Chacarra will make his first appearance as a professional with LIV Golf after turning pro this week. The 22-year-old is a two-time All-American at Oklahoma State University, where he was a finalist for both the Ben Hogan Award and the Haskins Award as the NCAA’s top collegiate golfer. Chacarra made 14 collegiate starts in 2021-22, winning three times with six additional top-six finishes.

Mike Ehrmann

Ortiz, winner of four professional tournaments, has been a standout since turning pro in 2014. He has spent 80 weeks of his career ranked in the top 100 and reached 44th in the world in February 2021. Born in Guadalajara, Mexico and a collegiate golfer at the University of North Texas, Ortiz represented his country in the Summer Olympics in Tokyo in 2021.

“Our impressive roster of LIV golfers continues to grow with incredible young talent and international stars. Matthew Wolff and Eugenio Chacarra have both made a name for themselves as two of golf’s most promising talents, exhibiting impressive success at an early age. I’m eager to watch them play alongside Carlos Ortiz, one of Mexico’s most consistent pros who along with many of our other golfers represents LIV Golf’s continued commitment to growing the game on a global scale,” said Greg Norman, CEO and Commissioner of LIV Golf. “LIV Golf is providing new opportunities for the best players in the world to compete, and our field in Portland reflects that. We can’t wait to kick off our first U.S. event with these incredible golfers.”

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Another day, another ace, another insane celebration at TPC Scottsdale’s 16th

Golf Digest Middle East — Mon, 14 Feb 2022 04:07:12 +0000

By Ryan Herrington
Carlos Ortiz had hit the green in regulation on the par-3 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale just 12 out of 21 times at the WM Phoenix Open prior to stepping to the tee on Sunday. No doubt he will always remember the swing that made it 13 out of 22.

For the second straight day, the crowd surrounding the Stadium hole was given the chance to go berserk as Ortiz’s 9-iron tee shot hit the green, rolled toward the cup and dropped in on the left side for a hole-in-one from 178 yards.

Cue the madness:

Raining in the desert again. ? pic.twitter.com/7uz5hKRQtj

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 13, 2022

Recall on Saturday, Sam Ryder made the first ace on the hole in the tournament since Francesco Molinari did it in 2015. With Ortiz making it two in two days, it was the first time that there have been two aces made on the hole in one week since 1997 when Tiger Woods did it in the third round and Steve Stricker followed up in the final round.

Ortiz is the 11th player to make a hole-in-one at 16 since the tournament started to be played at TPC Scottsdale in 1987.

According to PGA Tour Communications, there have been 2,863 tee shots between Molinari’s ace and Ryder’s. There were just 33 between Ryder’s and Ortiz’s.

Ortiz started on 10th tee for his final round, and after his fireworks on the 16th hole, he was four under on the round. Two swings later he was six under through eight holes after hitting the green off the tee on the drivable par 4, and then rolling in a nearly 13-footer for a second straight eagle. In the process, Ortiz became the first player to make back-to-back eagles during the 2021-22 PGA Tour season.

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