Carlos Ortiz wins LIV Golf Houston to go with his PGA Tour win at Houston Open
- Perla Paredes Hernandez
- Jun 8, 2024
- 3 min read
Mexico’s Carlos Ortiz won in Houston for the second time as a pro Sunday, claiming his first victory on the LIV Golf Tour.
Ortiz, who won the PGA Tour's Houston Open in 2020 at Memorial Park, prevailed by one stroke over Adrian Meronk on Sunday at the Golf Club of Houston.
“I love playing here,” Ortiz said. “Obviously, Texas treats me well. It’s my adopted home state. I’m just happy to get it done again in Houston.”
Ortiz and Meronk began the day in a four-way tie for the lead with David Puig and Paul Casey. Ortiz shot a 5-under 67 for a three-day total of 15 under. Ortiz birdied No. 15, while Meronk made bogey to create a two-stroke gap.
“Honestly, it was just a matter of playing solid coming down the stretch,” Ortiz said. “I think there was a switch there on 15 that I made birdie, he made bogey, and I just knew that I had to par in pretty much, and it was mine. That’s what I was trying to do.”
Ortiz, who began his day with breathing exercises on the first tee, was finally able to exhale after his final putt on 18 for bogey sealed the win.
After being sprayed with champagne by his Torque GC teammates, Ortiz, 33, opened his arms in celebration as the skies, which had threatened rain all day, provided a slight sprinkle.
While several in the field will be moving on to the U.S. Open next week, Ortiz won’t. He missed qualifying for the event last week.
“It’s a shame I doubled the last hole to miss the qualifier,” Ortiz said. “It hurt a lot. But I think with time, we’re going to get back into the majors, because I know that I’m one of the best players in the world right now, and I deserve to be there. But the way things are happening right now, it’s kind of hard. I’ll do my best to get into the British Open, and I also have the Summer Olympics, too, other than the LIV tournaments coming up.”
Meronk had tied Ortiz for the lead with consecutive birdies at 11, 12 and 13 before his bogey at 15. Trailing by two going into the final hole, Meronk gave himself a slight chance when he reached the green in two and had a birdie putt. Ortiz had gone over the green and had to take a drop after his ball landed up against the wall of a spectator club.
But Ortiz hit a nice chip, and Meronk missed his birdie putt.
Ortiz said that as he set up his chip, he was thinking, “Don’t chunk it.” He didn’t.
“I’ve been working on those chips,” he said. “It’s easy right now.”
Local favorite Patrick Reed tied for third with Puig at 13 under after overcoming a bogey on his first hole to finish with a 68.
The Cleeks GC, led by Poland’s Meronk, won the team title at 33 under. Also contributing for the all-European team were Martin Kaymer (Germany), Richard Bland (England) and Kalle Samooja (Finland).
It was the Cleeks' first team title on the LIV tour, which, in addition to an individual winner, also recognizes four-man teams.
The LIV tour has six events left this season, including its championship in Dallas on Sept. 20-22. That just happens to be the adopted hometown of Ortiz.
“I guess Texas likes me,” Ortiz said. “And I like Texas back.”
By Perla Paredes Hernandez, Staff writer
June 9, 2024
Comments