Kalle Samooja (Finland) clinched victory, concluding the day at eight under par with impressive rounds of 65 and 71 in Sunday’s marathon finish. This triumph marked a historic moment as Samooja became the first Finnish player to secure a place on the league.

After his remarkable day of golf, Samooja shared, “It means a lot. That’s why we’re all here. We all knew there are three spots available, three cards, and everyone was after those cards. My only mission was to make it to Sunday and then give it all I have, and we’re standing here.”

KALLE SAMOOJA IS OUR LIV GOLF PROMOTIONS 2023 CHAMPION ?

He’ll be part of the LIV Golf League in 2024 ?#LIVGolf pic.twitter.com/SxUIeOeeNA

— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) December 10, 2023

Reflecting on the impact of this achievement and its significance in his native Finland, Samooja remarked, “It’s going to be massive, I think. Golf is booming back home in Finland. We have guys, one guy on PGA TOUR, European Tour (DP World Tour), now LIV Golf, so it’s going to be massive for Finnish golf.”

Samooja gets greeted off 18 green by Greg Norman #LIVGolf pic.twitter.com/JSJzaVJXFa

— Golf Digest ME (@GolfDigestME) December 10, 2023

The pursuit of the remaining two spots on LIV Golf transformed into an intense battle as three players finished Sunday’s 36-hole contest tied at seven under par. This deadlock led to a playoff to determine the two qualifiers for the league between Jinichiro Kozuma, Kieran Vincent and Laurie Canter.

After two playoff holes, conducted under the recently installed floodlights on Abu Dhabi Golf Club’s 18th hole, Japanese player Kozuma and Zimbabwean Vincent emerged victorious. It was heartbreak for Canter, who missed out on his guaranteed place in the LIV Golf roster in 2024 after a three-putt on the first playoff hole and a double bogey on the second hole handed the remaining two spots to Kozuma and Vincent.

Jinichiro Kozuma, the sole Japanese player in the LIV Golf League in 2024, expressed his elation saying, “Last year when I played in a spot in LIV Golf, I said that I wanted to come back again for sure, and to be real now, it’s like a dream. I was in good shape with my golf, so I knew that I had a chance to make it if I made good three rounds. But it’s just a dream come true. I didn’t try to be in the best three, but I made it.”

Jinichiro Kozuma secures his spot on the LIV Golf League for 2024 ?

The first player from Japan to have a full spot ?#LIVGolf pic.twitter.com/3zh3iWFb8q

— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) December 10, 2023

Kieran Vincent, forming the only brother duo on the LIV Golf league in 2024 alongside his brother Scott Vincent of the IronHeads GC, shared his excitement. “I think it’s awesome. Obviously, he’s a great player and someone I’ve looked up to for pretty much my whole life. To be playing alongside him again is going to be awesome, but just to learn from the rest of the guys I think is something I’m looking forward to the most.”

Kieran Vincent slams the door ?

He’ll be part of the LIV Golf League in 2024 ?#LIVGolf pic.twitter.com/f8cwoOU3oX

— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) December 10, 2023

Reflecting on the week’s events, LIV Golf CEO and Commissioner Greg Norman summarised the intense competition and historic moments. “What we witnessed today, and the last three days is something very unique and special to the game of golf, one that I’m extremely proud of and one my entire team on LIV Golf Worldwide is extremely proud of.”

The LIV Golf League is owned and operated by LIV Golf Investments whose vision and mission is centered around making holistic and sustainable investments to enhance the global golf ecosystem and unlock the sport’s untapped worldwide potential.

Main Image: LIV Golf

The post Samooja, Kozuma & Vincent Qualify for LIV Golf League 2024 appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Tod Leonard
These days, it usually takes going exceptionally low to win on the PGA Tour, and it’s apparently no different in qualifying for the US Open.

In the first final qualifier played in North America on Monday at two courses in Dallas, 11-under for 36 holes was the number to be the medallist — and there were four players who achieved that — while seven-under was the score that got players into next month’s major at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts.

In a qualifier that featured numerous PGA Tour pros, the top 13 out of 98 entrants advanced, and a six-man playoff was required for the final two spots. Those positions went to Davis Shore and Roger Sloan, while Adam Hadwin and Austin Cook were the first and second alternates, respectively.

The day’s low score was a 62 fashioned by Matthew NeSmith, who made nine birdies in the morning round at Royal Oaks Country Club. NeSmith, a third-year PGA Tour player who has competed in only one major, shot 69 in the second round at Lakewood Country Club and joined Americans Kurt Kitayama (65-66) and Sean Crocker (64-67), and Japan’s Jinichiro Kozuma (68-63) at 11-under.

Among the notables not advancing were 2010 US Open champion Graeme McDowell, Matt Kuchar, Aaron Baddeley, Rory Sabbatini and James Hahn.

The other more recognisable names to advance were Canadians Mackenzie Hughes (nine-under) and Nick Taylor (nine-under) and American Scott Stallings, who was solo 11th at eight-under.

There was one amateur who reached from this final: University of Texas junior Travis Vick, who shot nine-under. Vick was a semi-finalist at last year’s US Amateur at Oakmont.

The remaining nine final qualifiers — eight in the US and one in Canada — will be contested on Monday, June 6.

You might also like:
Here is everyone who has qualified for the US Open so far
The most infamous 72nd hole major collapses
Rory and the PGA have a major problem
18 takeaways from the PGA Championship
Justin has a drive to win
Mito the surprise leader at PGA Championship
Tiger withdraws ahead of PGA Championship final round
Zalatoris putting things right
McIlroy misses big chance at PGA Championship
Rory McIlroy swing analysis
Is Tiger’s style holding him back?
Rory leads the way at Southern Hills
Forget Dubai, check out the prices for drinks at PGA Championship
Dubai golfer Amelia McKee going pro

The post US Open 2022: These scores were ridiculously low, even in a US Open qualifier appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.