Charl Schwartzel wins LIV Golf tournament in Hemel Hempstead

Schwartzel carded a final round of 72 to finish seven under par and a shot clear of Hennie Du Plessis, with Branden Grace a stroke further back alongside Peter Uihlein in the three-day event at Centurion Club in Hemel Hempstead.

The South African trio were all part of Stinger Golf Club in the four-man team event, meaning they – and team-mate Louis Oosthuizen – shared 3million US dollars, with Schwartzel’s first prize of 4million matching his earnings from the last four seasons on the PGA Tour.

“Honestly, I’m relieved,” said Schwartzel, who led by five shots with seven holes to play before a double bogey on the 12th set up a nervy finish.

“Never in my wildest dreams did I think we could play for so much money in golf. It’s been an amazing experience.

“It was tough finishing there. I made a bad mistake on 12 which put me on the back foot and I needed to just stay calm and try to get this thing into the house.

“I had it in my hands and made it more difficult than it should have been but I am just proud of how I hung in there and it’s a great feeling.”

LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman, who attempted to set up a world tour in 1994, said: “The evolution of the game of golf is alive and LIV is alive.

“For 27 years there’s been a lot of obstacles put in our path, a lot of dreams have tried to be squashed, but they couldn’t squash us and golf was always going to be the force for good out of all this.”

Of the course, former Masters champion Patrick Reed and world number 168 Pat Perez became the latest players to join the Saudi-backed series on Saturday.

Reed became the 19th PGA Tour member to sign with the breakaway circuit, with the 17 competing in the first £20million event this week suspended by the Tour as soon as play started at Centurion Club on Thursday.

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said the “same fate holds true” for any players who compete in future LIV events despite being denied permission, with Reed, Bryson DeChambeau and now Perez set to contest the second event in Portland at the end of the month.

“I’m super excited,” Reed said. “Just the thought of being able to be part of an evolution and a change in golf for the better is unbelievable.

“I’ve been talking to some of the guys after the first and second rounds and they told me how well the tournament is run and the turnout with the fans, the energy and excitement. Portland can’t get here fast enough.”

secured an incredible 4.75million US dollars (£3.85m) payday with victory in both the individual and team events at the controversial LIV Golf Invitational Series event in Hertfordshire.

Schwartzel carded a final round of 72 to finish seven under par and a shot clear of Hennie Du Plessis, with Branden Grace a stroke further back alongside Peter Uihlein in the three-day event at Centurion Club in Hemel Hempstead.

The South African trio were all part of Stinger Golf Club in the four-man team event, meaning they – and team-mate Louis Oosthuizen – shared 3million US dollars, with Schwartzel’s first prize of 4million matching his earnings from the last four seasons on the PGA Tour.

“Honestly, I’m relieved,” said Schwartzel, who led by five shots with seven holes to play before a double bogey on the 12th set up a nervy finish.

“Never in my wildest dreams did I think we could play for so much money in golf. It’s been an amazing experience.

“It was tough finishing there. I made a bad mistake on 12 which put me on the back foot and I needed to just stay calm and try to get this thing into the house.

“I had it in my hands and made it more difficult than it should have been but I am just proud of how I hung in there and it’s a great feeling.”

LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman, who attempted to set up a world tour in 1994, said: “The evolution of the game of golf is alive and LIV is alive.

“For 27 years there’s been a lot of obstacles put in our path, a lot of dreams have tried to be squashed, but they couldn’t squash us and golf was always going to be the force for good out of all this.”

Of the course, former Masters champion Patrick Reed and world number 168 Pat Perez became the latest players to join the Saudi-backed series on Saturday.

Reed became the 19th PGA Tour member to sign with the breakaway circuit, with the 17 competing in the first £20million event this week suspended by the Tour as soon as play started at Centurion Club on Thursday.

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said the “same fate holds true” for any players who compete in future LIV events despite being denied permission, with Reed, Bryson DeChambeau and now Perez set to contest the second event in Portland at the end of the month.

“I’m super excited,” Reed said. “Just the thought of being able to be part of an evolution and a change in golf for the better is unbelievable.

“I’ve been talking to some of the guys after the first and second rounds and they told me how well the tournament is run and the turnout with the fans, the energy and excitement. Portland can’t get here fast enough.”