Michael La Sasso arrived at LIV Golf Indianapolis still searching for his first professional victory. He left as the youngest champion in LIV Golf history after staring down some of the biggest names in the sport.
The 22-year-old HyFlyers GC rookie delivered a bogey-free, 5-under 65 Sunday at The Club at Chatham Hills, finishing at 18-under par and beating Jon Rahm by one shot for his first LIV Golf title — and first victory as a professional.
La Sasso entered the final round with a one-shot advantage but had little room for error with a leaderboard stacked behind him. Rahm fired a 7-under 63 to finish at 17 under, while Bryson DeChambeau and Sergio Garcia closed at 16 under to share third.
Yet the rookie never blinked.
La Sasso played his final round without a bogey and ultimately arrived at the par-5 18th tied with Rahm, needing a birdie to win outright.
He delivered.
After finding the green complex, La Sasso got up and down for the tournament-clinching birdie, setting off a celebration with his HyFlyers teammates and completing one of the biggest breakthrough performances of the LIV Golf season.
“I’m completely speechless,” La Sasso said afterward. “I knew coming into this week that something special might happen.”
The victory was particularly remarkable considering how La Sasso’s week began.
He opened with a 1-over 71 and appeared nowhere near contention. Then came the round that changed everything: a spectacular 10-under 60 on Friday. La Sasso followed with rounds of 66 and 65 to finish 71-60-66-65 for a 262 total.
From 1 over after 18 holes to LIV Golf champion three rounds later.
From NCAA Champion to LIV Winner
La Sasso’s rapid rise has been one of the more intriguing stories of the 2026 season.
The former Ole Miss star won the 2025 NCAA Division I individual championship before leaving college and turning professional to join Phil Mickelson’s HyFlyers GC for the 2026 LIV season. Indianapolis represented just his 13th professional tournament.
His first victory didn’t come against an anonymous leaderboard, either.
La Sasso had to withstand charges from Rahm, DeChambeau and Garcia — a trio with seven major championships between them.
Rahm applied the most pressure.
The Spaniard birdied the 18th — his penultimate hole because of LIV’s shotgun start — to move ahead before making bogey at the par-4 first, his final hole. That left Rahm at 17 under and opened the door for La Sasso to win with a closing birdie.
La Sasso took advantage.
“Seeing those names on the leaderboard, those are guys I grew up watching and admiring,” La Sasso said. “Knowing I was able to hold [Rahm] off, that’s even more special.”
A Star-Making Week
La Sasso didn’t merely survive the pressure. He produced the kind of weekend that suggested LIV may have found another young star.
After his opening 71, La Sasso played his final 54 holes in 19 under par, including that second-round 60.
Laurie Canter, who played alongside La Sasso in the final group, came away impressed.
“He’s a killer, isn’t he?” Canter said. “He knows where it’s going. I love it. I think it’s great. I think he’s going to be great for golf.”
The victory also made La Sasso the youngest individual winner through LIV Golf’s first five seasons. He earned $2.02 million for the title.
Legion XIII Wins Team Championship
Rahm didn’t leave Indianapolis empty-handed.
Legion XIII successfully defended its LIV Golf Team Championship, with Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton, Caleb Surratt and Tom McKibbin combining to finish at 44 under — six shots clear of La Sasso’s HyFlyers GC at 38 under.
Ripper GC finished third at 36 under.
It marked the second consecutive team championship for Legion XIII and another trophy for a club that has quickly become LIV’s dominant team.
But Sunday’s individual spotlight belonged to the 22-year-old rookie.
A year removed from becoming the best player in college golf, La Sasso stood on the final hole of a professional tournament with Rahm, DeChambeau and Garcia breathing down his neck.
He needed birdie.
He made birdie.
And Michael La Sasso walked off the 18th green as LIV Golf’s youngest-ever champion.
