LIV Golf’s David Puig falls to John Catlin in Asian Tour playoff

A day after taking pictures an unbelievable 59 in Macau, John Catlin had extra purpose to have a good time on Sunday.

He defeated LIV Golf’s David Puig in a two gap playoff on the Worldwide Collection Macau on the Asian Tour. The win marks his first skilled victory since April 2021, when he triumphed on the Austrian Golf Open on the DP World Tour.

“Nonetheless hasn’t fairly sunk in, and that was one heck of a battle,” Catlin stated, per the Asian Tour.

“I imply, when you had informed me I might end 23-under for the event, and I nonetheless must be in a playoff, I’d be like, you’re kidding. However I imply, it was particular all week, I fought actually onerous. You recognize, I used to be battling all week lengthy and to return out on high is actually, actually particular.”

Catlin acquired a particular invite into the sphere this week, as he has struggled mightily over the previous couple of years. He misplaced his DP World Tour card after a disappointing 2023, and has solely performed in three occasions so far in 2024.

Picture by Jason Butler/Getty Pictures

However none of those points reared their ugly head Macau. As a substitute, Catlin performed the way in which he is aware of he’s able to, taking pictures a 5-under 65 Sunday to maintain tempo with Puig, who carded an electrifying 10-under 60.

Taking part in 4 teams in entrance of Catlin, Puig made 4 birdies on the entrance and dropped a shot on the par-4 fifth, thus going out with a 3-under 31.

He was at 16-under then, and in want of creating a transfer.

That he did.

The Spaniard made two birdies and an eagle over his first 4 holes on the back-nine, after which closed with three birdies over his closing 4 holes. In all, it totaled to a 7-under 29, as Puig then needed to wait within the clubhouse at 23-under.

Picture by Jason Butler/Getty Pictures

In the meantime, Catlin made the flip with a four-shot lead in hand. However he meandered considerably on the back-nine, making solely two birdies and a bogey to shoot a 1-under 35 coming in.

However Catlin nonetheless had an opportunity to finish the event in regulation. On the par-5 18th, Catlin confronted a six-footer for birdie and a return to the winner’s circle. He missed, thus settling for par and forcing a playoff.

The 2 gamers went again to the tee on 18, because the sizable gallery in Macau adopted them. Then, Puig tried going for the inexperienced in two, however discovered the bunker adjoining to the placing floor. He hit the flagstick together with his third shot, as his ball stopped inches from the cup. As such, Puig made birdie.

Catlin then confronted a six-footer for birdie, however not like in regulation, the American drained it, thus extending the playoff.

Then, on the second playoff, Puig confronted an analogous putt, however missed. Catlin two-putted for birdie, incomes his fifth profession Asian Tour win.

“Yeah, good day, clearly the rating says it proper?” Puig stated afterward.

“And I performed good. Had an excellent again 9 and I’m comfortable that I acquired into the playoff and I had an opportunity. It has been week. I imply totally different course for certain however fairly enjoyable. Additionally, you understand, I’m fairly drained being the seventh week in a row, so I’m glad I completed on notice and prepared for what’s subsequent.”

Puig, who is barely 22-years-old and performed at Arizona State, has traversed the world over the previous few months in an try and attempt to earn Official World Golf Rating (OWGR) factors. He’s presently ranked 132nd within the OWGR, whereas DataGolf lists him because the 99th ranked participant.

However, he did earn a spot in The Open Championship at Royal Troon in July, because of his play on the Malaysian Open in February. However he has but to obtain an invitation—or a spot—in any of the opposite three majors.

LIV golfers face an uphill battle attempting to qualify for main championships, as a result of the OWGR doesn’t award factors to LIV occasions resulting from its construction and format. The majors use the OWGR to find out its fields.

Therefore, quite a few LIV gamers—comparable to Patrick Reed, Jason Kokrak, Carlos Ortiz, Pat Perez, and Lucas Herbert—teed it up in Macau this week.

Herbert completed in solo third at 21-under, whereas Reed got here in fourth, ending at 20-under for the week. Kokrak and Ortiz additionally had high 10 outcomes.

However standing atop the leaderboard on the finish was Catlin, who absolutely will get extra enjoying alternatives in 2024 because of his exhilarating victory.

Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Taking part in Via. Be sure you take a look at @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You’ll be able to observe him on Twitter @jack_milko as properly.