The challenge was simple, if hefty. All Brendan Steele had to to was take on fan favourite Cameron Smith, his all-Australian team, and the Australian fans while trying to earn a maiden victory at LIV Golf Adelaide. Showing nerves made of well, steel, the Californian pulled off the unthinkable with an otherworldly display of ball-striking to defeat Loos Oosthuizen by one shot.

Not that the estimated 100,000 Australian fans (over three days) truly cared about the individual result. That’s what happens when you build an unrivalled fan experience with a party hole on a good golf course – the atmosphere doesn’t rely on a big name winning.

“It’ amazing [to win]; the fans treated me so well. I can’t say enough good things about the fans, the golf course and the event,” Steele said.

Steele, a former three-time PGA Tour winner, held off a furious Australian and South African charge to capture his first LIV Golf title at the second edition of its flagship Adelaide event. Lucas Herbert and Marc Leishman were stellar as they combined with Smith and Matt Jones to take Ripper GC to a playoff against Oosthuizen’s Stinger team to decide the LIV Golf Adelaide teams title.

Steele carded a four-under 68 at The Grange to finish at 18 under par (198), Oosthuizen’s 65 elevated him to 17 under. Oosthuizen’s teammates on the all-South African Stinger, Dean Burmester (67) and Charl Schwartzel (64), who shared third with two-time major winner Jon Rahm (64), Andy Ogletree (65) and Australian Open champion Joaquin Niemann (66).

Jones was the top Australian at 14 under, while Smith, Leishman and Herbert all finished a shot back at 13 under.

We’ll update you once there is a result.

More to come…