Harold Varner III gets first US win at LIV Golf DC, will try to qualify for US Open

Harold Varner III calls his first American victory in golf ‘very special’ after taking the crown at LIV Golf DC.

It was Harold Varner III’s third win on Sunday as he beat the LIV Golf field in Washington DC, but a very heartfelt one to achieve it on American soil, beating Branden Grace of South Africa by one stroke at LIV Golf DC in Sterling, Virginia.

Finishing at 12-under, Varner had been the one to beat all tournament long. However, a last ditch effort by Grace made the closing few holes a nail biter as both golfers held the top spot on the leaderboard for a bit.

But it would end up being Varner’s day, who matched the challenge that Grace posed. The 32-year-old had been the golfer to chase throughout the tournament. Even when the 35-year-old Grace birdied his final hole. Varner reciprocated, making the short putt he had set up to secure the outright win.

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His first win in the U.S. meant a great deal, coming in the day before the Memorial Day holiday.

“Very special,” Varner said afterward. “I’ve never won in America. It’s my favorite country.”

His first win had occurred at the Australian PGA Championship in 2016, an event co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour of Australasia and the European Tour. His second victory was achieved just last year, the PIF Saudi International in February 2022, part of the Asian Tour.

The LIV DC win was also complimented with his team, the RangeGoats GC coming in third.

“It’s good, but at the end of the day, I really wanted to celebrate with the RangeGoats,” Varner said. “That’s my team.”

Varner not only kept Grace at bay, but Torque GC’s Mito Pereira, who made an incredible eagle on the 13th hole and final birdie on the 18th. Although he came in third with 10-under, it was enough to secure first place for his team, Torque GC.

“My irons weren’t very good today,” Pereira said. “Happy to finish third and obviously wanted to win. But we won as a team, so that’s pretty sick, too.”

But it was Varner’s day, with play like his bunker shot on the par-four 11th that cemented his momentum. It was also the shot of the day.

Harold Varner III turns sights to US Open qualifying after LIV Golf DC win

Harold Varner III is coming off a Top 29 finish at the PGA Championship. Because LIV Golf tournaments do not garner OWGR points — something that will not be decided until later this year, it seems — Varner’s current rank of 67 doesn’t get him an automatic spot at the next major, the US Open. However, like Sergio Garcia, who just earned his spot at the qualifying tournament in Dallas, he will opt to play a qualifying event for the chance to compete at the LA Country Club.

The debate on the ranking points continues, with hopefully a satisfying conclusion coming soon. In the meantime, LIV Golf reported record attendance in the U.S. at the DC tournament.

The next LIV competition will take place at the Valderrama Golf Club in Spain, beginning June 30, a few weeks after the US Open, which starts June 15.

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