Cameron Smith's $5.9m blunder in brutal moment on LIV Golf debut

Cameron Smith has fallen agonisingly short of victory in his maiden LIV Golf event in Boston, but still managed to bank over $AU1 million for his efforts.

The Aussie World No.2, who became the highest-profile player to join Greg Norman's Saudi-funded league last week, shared the lead with two holes to play on Sunday.

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But in a brutal blunder, Smith sent his tee shot into the bushes, with his first bogey of the round a costly one.

It meant Smith dropped out of contention for a three-way sudden-death play-off, which was won by Dustin Johnson after he nailed a 35-foot eagle putt to seal the win.

Johnson walked away with a staggering $AU5.9 million for the victory.

The victory was Johnson's first in 19 months after he finished ahead of two other LIV Golf debutants in Chile's Joaquin Niemann and Anirban Lahiri from India.

Smith's final round of seven-under 63 saw him finish in a tie for fourth at 14-under alongside Englishman Lee Westwood, who carded a 62.

The Queenslander started with a bang in the opening round, posting a six-under 64 that included a 45-foot eagle putt.

But the British Open champion dropped down the leaderboard on day two when he signed for a one-under 69 to share eighth spot.

"I thought I was really out of it after the second round as I played pretty poorly but to get out here today and to do what I did was pretty cool," Smith said.

"It was just an unfortunate bogey there on the second last hole and it cost me a spot in the play-off."

Upon signing deal worth a reported $AU145 million to join Norman's rebel tour, Smith said he was excited about the music and vibe at LIV tournaments and wasn't disappointed by his first outing.

"It was great out there - the competition is fantastic," he said.

"It's loud and it feels like the course has a heartbeat. I love that and can't wait to keep going."

Dustin Johnson's $5.9 million victory

Johnson, who closed with a five-under 65, needed a birdie on the par-5 18th to take the outright win.

However his drive went into the rough and he had to settle for a par and join Lahiri (64) and Niemann (66) at 15-under 265.

Luck then went his way in the play-off when his fast-moving putt hit the back of the cup and dropped in, securing the pay cheque of $A5.9 million.

"It was going a little fast, but it was a good line," Johnson said with a big smile.

"I got some unlucky breaks (on No. 18) the first time around. It owed me one and I got it."

The next LIV Golf Invitational series is in two weeks in the Chicago suburbs at Rich Harvest Farms, best known for hosting the Solheim Cup in 2009.

with AAP

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