Sunday, December 22, 2024

With assist from Bryson DeChambeau, Nashville sets attendance record for LIV Golf US event

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COLLEGE GROVE — LIV Golf’s Nashville tournament set the attendance record among the league’s United States events to date, according to LIV.

More than 40,000 spectators attended the tournament at The Grove over three days, according to LIV communications. That included sellout crowds of 14,454 people on Saturday and Sunday. 

LIV Golf’s Washington D.C. tournament at Trump National Golf Club in May had owned the high attendance mark. No official figure was released, but estimations had close to 40,000 fans attending.

LIV Nashville was on pace to break the record, a league spokesman said, even before Bryson DeChambeau won the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2. But interest increased with DeChambeau playing in Nashville just days after his dramatic victory over Rory McIlroy. On-site merchandise sales for the first two days alone surpassed any three days of sales for a U.S. event, per LIV.

More: Bryson DeChambeau, birdies and beer: Inside LIV Golf Nashville’s ‘party hole’ at The Grove

DeChambeau finished tied for third at 12 under. He drew massive galleries and regularly interacted with fans all three days.

Tyrrell Hatton captured the tournament title and $4 million payout, finishing 19 under for the tournament, six shots ahead of Sam Horsfield. Hatton was mobbed by Legion XIII teammates Jon Rahm, former Tennessee star Caleb Surratt and Kieran Vincent and celebrated with champagne. Legion XIII won the team competition with a cumulative 40 under to earn $3 million.

DeChambeau fell to his knees after missing a long birdie putt on the par-3 15th, dubbed the “party hole,” drawing disappointed groans from the crowd.

He was unable to catch Hatton during a birdie fest in the final round. Hatton made eight birdies to pull away. Third-place Joaquin Niemann made 10 birdies.

More: What is LIV Golf Nashville 2024 purse, payout for tournament at The Grove?

Reach sports writer Tyler Palmateer at tpalmateer@tennessean.com and on the X platform, formerly Twitter, @tpalmateer83.

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