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

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The Zimbabwean, in just his second year as a professional, holed a decisive 12-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to beat Anirban Lahiri from India and Australian Kevin Yuan by one stroke.

Vincent shot a six-under-par 66, for a four-round aggregate of 19 under, while Lahiri carded a 64 and Yuan, who missed a similar length birdie putt on the last to force a sudden-death play-off, a 68.

Japan’s Takumi Kanaya had started the day with a three-shot advantage but, unlike the International Series Oman in February where he triumphed after also holding the third-round lead, he struggled on the back nine and closed with a 73 to tie for fourth, on 16-under, with American Michael Maguire (66), Korea’s Taehee Lee (67) and Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai (67), Pawin Ingkhapradit (68) and Jazz Janewattananond (70).

“It is surreal right now,” said the 25-year-old Vincent, who won $360,000.

“I think there are so many people I have to thank at this stage that have put so much time and effort into me that they deserve it more than myself.

“I feel like I am a lead singer in a band of people that have done so much for me. I am very appreciative. I don’t think it is going to sink in for a while.”

The Zimbabwean’s putter seemed to go cold on Saturday, but he bounced back on Sunday with six birdies and no dropped shots.

About his final putt, he said: “That is the game of golf, you win some, you lose some, some go in, some don’t, and I am just very thankful it went in at the right time, when I needed it, and so I was just lucky enough to keep giving myself opportunities. Yeah I could not have dreamed it any better.

He’s moved into second place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit and third on the International Series OOM, giving him a chance to emulate his brother Scott who won last year’s International Series merit list and is now playing on the LIV Golf League.

American Andy Ogletree remains in pole position on both OOMs.

Yuan, playing in the last group, came close to spoiling the party for Vincent, in the group ahead, but narrowly missed his birdie putt on 18.

“I gave it my all out there today,” Yuan said. “I left a few shots out there today and a few shots out there this week, but I’m happy with where my game is and the progression that it’s on. I think it was an awesome round by Kieran today and a huge win for him, congrats to him. But overall, I’m pretty satisfied with how my tournament went and looking for more good things to come.”

The result continued a remarkable run of form by the up-and-coming golfer from Sydney, who has made the cut in all eight events on the Asian Tour this season. His result improved upon his previous best finish, which was fifth place at the International Series Thailand last month.

Seven-time Asian Tour winner Lahiri was attempting to win his first Asian Tour title in eight years and was a strong favourite after storming through the field in the fifth from last group making eight birdies in his first 14 holes, with no dropped shots, but he could only par the last four holes.

“I’m happy with the way I played, disappointed not to make a couple more coming in,” said Lahiri, the Asian Tour’s number one player in 2015 before embarking on a successful career on the PGA Tour.

“You know I got off to a really good start. I kind of found my rhythm yesterday and today so that was nice. Yeah, a little upset not to make maybe one or two in the last four holes which are very gettable. So yeah, great week, but it’s disappointing. I’ve had so many seconds now I need to break this habit of mine.”

The Indian star heads to the LIV Golf Adelaide event next week before LIV Golf Singapore.

“Excited to take this form into the next few weeks. I think it is going to be an important stretch over the next month, month-and-a-half. You know, you get into the meat of the season. And very exciting to go to Australia. I’ve been to Adelaide and I’m hearing great things about the venue, about the people and the anticipation, the buzz is great. I’m expecting it to be one of the best events of the year actually, for LIV. So yeah, you know, we’ll be off tomorrow and the show goes on.”

The Asian Tour heads to Korea next for the Maekyung Open, which will be played at its regular home Nam Seoul County Club from May 4-7. Korean Bio Kim is the defending champion.

The post Kieran keeps it in the family as he joins brother Scott as Asian Tour International Series winner in Vietnam — targets spot on LIV Golf League appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

He carded a four-under 69 at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam to lead on 10-under by two shots from overnight leader Richard T Lee from Canada, who carded a 74.

Another LIV-er, Scott Vincent, has familiar company as his brother Kieran is tied alongside him for third, one stroke further back, along with Australian Scott Hend, who came in with a 72.

Puig, who played for Arizona State University, turned professional in September to compete in the LIV Golf Invitational event at Chicago, and this week’s Asian Tour event is only his second tournament as a pro. 

“You know, I played pretty good overall,” said the 20-year-old. “Obviously I hit it pretty good to not make any bogeys, but the whole day I played pretty steady. I’m hitting fairways and greens, and I made all the short putts that I needed to make. I’m excited and looking forward for tomorrow.

Kieran Vincent’s was the latest victim to the airline crisis. Not only did his clubs not arrive with him when he landed on Tuesday from New York, but he only received them on Thursday morning just hours before he teed off after he went to pick them up at Casablanca airport, which is well over a one-hour drive from the golf club.

“I didn’t even know my clubs were there [at the airport on Thursday]. I was lucky enough that they were coming on that flight from JFK, so I picked them up and got here just in time for my tee off time,” said the Zimbabwean.

“I had arrived here on Tuesday morning and was club-less. So just came up to the course and thought at least we’ll see the course and do a little bit of practice. I think I was using someone else’s wedge, and a putter from who knows when.

“One of the guys from here I was lucky enough for him to lend me a set for Wednesday too, if I was able to just go out there and play a couple of holes. So, I was lucky enough to do that. But the main reason was we had some clubs to play and practice with.”

He made an eagle, and seven birdies and will play in the final pairing on Sunday with Puig and Lee, with his brother Scott in the penultimate group.

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