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Harold Varner III Holds on to Win LIV Golf DC, Torque GC Wins Team Event

Varner Captured his First Ever Professional Victory on America Soil at LIV Golf DC

Story By: Erin Zollars

Photos By: Sol Tucker

Potomac Falls, VA–

For the 32-year-old Harold Varner III, grabbing a victory on home soil has been a goal of his since joining the LIV Tour, today he was able to do that as he held on to win the LIV DC Tournament.

With the victory today, Varner takes home his largest check ever as a professional golfer at 4 million, but the humble guy from Gastonia, NC who has been one of the more liked professionals even before he joined the tour was ecstatic about his victory.

“I feel like I get to help a lot of people now, even more people,” Varner said of his charity, the HV3 foundation, which aims to provide children affordable access to golf and mentorship. “That’s what kills me sometime; it costs a lot of money to help a lot of people.”
As a child, Varner’s family could only afford to buy him $15 Stephon Marbury shoes, which had no midsole support. He developed a degenerative nerve condition that still requires daily anti-inflammatory medication. It was one of the reasons he signed with LIV, knowing his playing days could be limited.

Mito Pereira, the 36-hole leader, shot 71 and finished third. Pereira’s team, Torque GC, also won the team event. Brooks Koepka, who won the PGA Championship last week for his fifth major, finished 14th, seven shots behind Varner.

Varner’s win Sunday was his first as a professional on U.S soil. He had won the Australian PGA Championship in 2016 and the 2022 Saudi International, but never on the PGA Tour. Varner began the final round in D.C. on Sunday one shot behind the lead, but fired a 68 to finish at 12 under par. He holed out from a bunker on the 11th, before draining a 12-footer for birdie on the 15th hole that increased his lead to two.

“Today feels really good. I don’t think I have ever had this much champagne all over before. These are things you dream about. You see other professional athletes like Formula 1 drivers, NBA Champs in the locker room, so why not me one day,” said Varner.

Overall, it seems like the tournament had some success at the Trump course and many said they would return next year to see the type of players like Varner win tournaments. However, some who gathered on 18 seemed less interested unless players like Koepka were at the top of the leaderboard.

 

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