24 June 2024 , 16:03
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LIV Golf stand-in John Catlin was an unknown quantity for much of the packed crowd at The Grove in Nashville at the weekend, but he ended the week as an unlikely star after a hugely impressive performance.
The world No. 167 has spent the past few years grinding away on the Asian Tour and DP World Tour, with a smattering of PGA Tour appearances thrown in. But with Crushers player Charles Howell III withdrawing from the LIV events in Houston and Nashville in recent weeks, 33-year-old Catlin has made the most of his opportunity as a reserve player.
After finishing in a tie for 24th at Houston earlier this month, Catlin was part of Bryson DeChambeau's Crushers squad again at The Grove. The Asian Tour leader, a California native, showed he belonged, holding a share of second place heading into the third and final round, three shots behind leader Tyrrell Hatton.
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Catlin was in the final group with Hatton and DeChambeau in Tennessee on Sunday, but his momentum slowed and he finished in a tie for seventh place, eight shots adrift of winner Hatton. Although he started the day with hopes of contending for victory, Catlin secured a milestone result in just his second LIV Golf start.
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With his seventh-place finish in the individual standings, Catlin earned a career-high $562,500 (£442,850) in prize money. He also played a pivotal role in the Crushers taking second place in the team standings, earning a quarter-share of $1.5million (£1.2m).
Catlin could not conceal the fact that he had a permanent LIV roster spot in his sights during a press conference after Saturday's second round. "I'd be lying if I said it didn't creep in there, but again, I don't really have any control over that. That's up to the captains. That's up to managers. That's up to the team organization," he said.
Catlin surpassed Ian Poulter and Bubba Watson's best results on LIV Golf in just his second start (Scott Halleran/Getty Images)"If I just keep doing what I'm doing, things are going to work out, and I'm going to keep putting in the work, and I hope I get more opportunities to showcase what I can do. We'll just have to wait and see. I hope so. I can tell you that right now; I would love to be out here."
Catlin's performance at The Grove certainly did his chances no harm, taking just two events to surpass personal-best LIV results for the likes of Ian Poulter and Bubba Watson – neither of whom have finished better than eighth place in a LIV event since joining the breakaway circuit in 2022 and 2023 respectively.
Howell is expected back in action soon after missing the past two events with a hairline fracture in his leg, but Catlin has put himself in the frame for any roster spots that open up on the Saudi Arabia-backed tour in the coming weeks and months.
DeChambeau heaped praise on his stand-in teammate, whom he competed against in his youth, after the second round in Nashville. "He's a fantastic golfer," DeChambeau said. "I grew up playing some golf with him in northern California, and we had some battles early on in our careers, in junior golf even. He's a stellar player. He's shot in the 50s and won a few times this year now.
"It just fit our team really well, and I'm praying for Charles [Howell III] that he's going to be healthy and get back here pretty soon. He's struggling with some stuff, but I have faith that he'll be back at our next event.
"You know what, I couldn't be more proud of John and the way he's performing for our team. We're in second place right now, and we've got to get the job done tomorrow. It's been too long."