Dallas recap: Crushers fall short of their No.1 goal after shock loss in the semis
CARROLLTON, Texas – Crushers GC became part of LIV Golf Team Championship folklore, but not in the way they would have wanted to.
Captain Bryson DeChambeau and his men were looking to become the first team to successfully defend their Team Championship title in Dallas, but they lost to the 13th-ranked Iron Heads GC in the semi-finals.
Crushers became the second team in two days to pick up Kevin Na’s team, and just like the powerful fifth-ranked Smash the day before in the quarter-finals, they lost to the lowest-ranked team as Iron Heads scripted a dramatic run to the podium at Maridoe Golf Club.
On Sunday, the Crushers competed in the second tier of the strokeplay competition. They finished third behind Stingers and Fireballs in the tier and seventh overall in the championship.
“It was like the air just went out of the balloon. We came into this week being very buoyant, hopeful and positive, but Saturday wasn't our day. That happens in match play sometimes, but I must credit Iron Heads for the story they scripted this week. It may not have been a great finish for us, but it was a great advertisement for what LIV Golf is trying to do with the format for the Team Championship,” said Anirban Lahiri.
“It’s been a damp finish for us. We are all very proud as a unit for playing the way we did all season and for being the No. 1 at the end of the regular season. I don't know if it means something, because, I guess, the record books will show that we finished seventh among the teams. But to be the No. 1 team in the regular season is no joke and probably some food for thought for LIV in the coming years on how that can be represented better.”
In the strokeplay, Crushers tallied 2-under par, with Paul Casey finishing on 3-under after making three birdies in his first four holes, and Lahiri closing at 1-under with four birdies. Captain DeChambeau and Charles Howell III finished on 1-over 73.
SEMIFINALS - Lost to Iron Heads GC 3-0
In the tournament's biggest upset, Crushers lost to Iron Heads GC on Saturday.
DeChambeau, despite playing his 16 holes to 5-under with an eagle and three birdies, was unable to shake off a gritty Danny Lee and lost 2-up. Casey ran into an equally determined Scott Vincent and fell 1-up, while Lahiri and Howell were beaten 3&1 by Kevin Na and Jinichiro Kozuma.
Casey only made one mistake in his round - a three-putt bogey on his third hole.
“We’re disappointed. We will go away and process it. Such small are the margins out here, you got to get everybody firing on their cylinders from the get-go,” said Casey.
“It is disappointing, but one, it is match play. And two, I tip my cap to Scott, who played a wonderful round of golf today. You can see the scorecard, and I made literally one error, which was a three-putt early on my third hole, and he still beat me.
“I looked at Danny’s scorecard against Bryson. I don't think Bryson, through 16 holes, made a single bogey and was 5-under. So, Danny played some amazing golf.”
Casey was also full of praise for the entire Iron Heads unit.
“Iron Heads are highlighting the underdog story. Everybody loves an underdog story. You've got a lot to cheer about them. You got a guy who got relegated, and that's very tough, but that's the nature of the game,” Casey added.
“They are a great story. In a weird way, you always kind of root for the guy that beat you. So, I’m always a Crusher, but maybe, we’ll be secretly cheering for those guys in the finals.”
Results
Singles 1: Bryson DeChambeau lost to Danny Lee 2-up
Singles 2: Paul Casey lost to Scott Vincent 1-up
Foursomes: Anirban Lahiri/Charles Howell III lost to Kevin Na/Jinichiro Kozuma 3&1
Quarterfinals - Bye
As the top seeds following the end of regular season in Chicago, Crushers received a bye on the opening day.