Super Spaniard Sergio Garcia is heading to the Masters after the disappointment of a third LIV Golf play-off loss after South African Dean Burmester birdied the second extra play-off hole on the ‘Blue Monster’ course at Trump Doral.

Garcia, 44, holed a monster birdie putt at the 53rd hole but then made a mess of the last walking off with a bogey to fall back into a tie at 11-under Burmester and with Garcia signing for a closing 70 and Burmester an equal best on the last day for a 68.

Burmester, 34, has been one of the best in-form players in recent months capturing back-to-back DP World Tour/Sunshine Tour events at the end of last year in his native South Africa and now a maiden victory toast in LIV Golf.

“I’m lost for words”, said Burmester.  “I have been on the receiving end of not winning a few times out here when I felt I played great and haven’t got it done.

“Sergio obviously gave me a lifeline there with his putt on 18 that got me in a play-off, and anything can happen in a play-off.

“Today was my day. I was super calm pretty much throughout the whole day and it felt that way. I had a pretty amazing crowd while there was some guys I got some tickets for and they were cheering for all day so that just carried me

“I’m super proud of what I have done. I am proud of my family.  It’s just been a long road and to beat some of the best players in the world, including a guy like Sergio is super special.   I idolised him growing up. I’ve known Glen, his caddy, for a long time.

“So, super special”.

DEAN BURMESTER IS YOUR LIV GOLF MIAMI CHAMPION #LIVGolf @BurmyGolf pic.twitter.com/1GPhcaIcTi

— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) April 7, 2024

Garcia headed into the final round leading by two shots at nine-under-par and he got the start he needed thanks to a third hole birdie however he stalled over the next five holes while those all around including Burmester began making their moves.

If you thought it was congested atop of the board that’s an understatement as Talor Gooch, who also began the last day tied in the same group as Burmester as well as Matthew Wolff and Tyrrell Hatton, birdied his opening two holes and while he pared the next five holes Gooch then went to 11-under with a birdie at eight only to drop a shot on nine before the 32-year-old got back to 10-under with a birdie on 10.

Garcia and Hatton broke the deadlock to move to 11-under after Garcia birdied the eighth and Hatton also taking a ‘2’ at the par-3 eighth.

However with eight holes to play there were still five players – Garcia, Burmester, Hatton, Wolff and Gooch – tied for the lead at 10-under.

Burmester broke the deadlock moving to 11-under with the fourth birdie of his blemish-free round at the par-3 13th but he gave the shot back at the next before an eight birdie of his day at the 16th ahead of a pair of closing pars.

Gooch crashed out of contention when he bogeyed the 11th hole, double the 13th and then dropped a further shot at the last in a score of 73 to drop back into a tie for ninth at six-under.

It seemed, and after losing out in two play-offs including earlier this year at the LIV Mayakoba, the tournament was Garcia’s especially in draining his lengthy birdie putt at 17 but it was not be after missing a four-footer for par at the last that would have won him the title.

“I mean, obviously when you’re that close, you want to win it, but unfortunately that only happens to one guy, and it wasn’t meant to be me”, said a despondent sounding Spaniard

“I think that without feeling that great with my swing and everything, I was able to be there again, kind of like at Mayakoba. Let’s see, hopefully I can feel a little bit more comfortable next week, see if I can get things going, and give myself a chance.

“Obviously it’s always a tough week, Augusta, and that course is just testing you all the time. But hopefully we’ll play well and get ourselves up there and see if we have a chance”.

The Legion X111 team of Jon Rahm, American Caleb Surratt, Tyrrell Hatton and Keiran Vincent held by a shot to win the team event.