The newly named Southern Guards started their season with a tie for eighth in the team competition as LIV 2026 got under way in Riyadh this past week.
At the top it turned into a battle between Ripper and Torque on day four on Saturday. The Australian Rippers started off fast, with Marc Leishman beginning his round with four straight birdies; the team collectively was 11 under through their first six holes.
Torque responded with Ancer, making his first start for his new team after four years with Fireballs GC, and Sebastian Munoz each shooting 66.
But the 64s by Smylie and Lucas Herbert were supported by Smith’s 65 and Leishman’s 69 to produce a fourth-round team score of 26 under, the third-best single round team score in league history. Ripper’s tournament total of 69 under is a league record as they won their fifth regular-season team title by three shots.
Brandon Grace led the way for the South Africans, finishing at 17-under and in a tie for 9th, seven shots back from winner Elvis Smylie. Captain Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel were tied for 30th at 11 under, while Dean Burmerster’s poor middle rounds of 74 and 74 lead him to a total of five-under par and in a tie for 51st with Martin Kaymer and Matthew Wolff.
The next event is in Adelaide from 12-15 February, while South African golf fans eagerly await LIV’s SA debut at Steyn City, Johannesburg, from 19-22 March.
Additional reporting from livgolf.com