Classy Catlin hits the high notes with superb showing for Crushers GC at LIV Golf Nashville

John Catlin is in the hunt for a place on the LIV Golf League next season thanks to the superb form which has taken him to second on The International Series Rankings, and the American proved he can mix it with the best of them this weekend as he recorded a T7 finish at LIV Golf Nashville.

Catlin was offered a slot as alternate for injured Crushers GC star Charles Howell III for the second tournament in a row thanks to some stellar form on the Asian Tour and The International Series this season.

The 33-year-old currently leads the Asian Tour Order of Merit and sits second in the rankings after back-to-back tournament wins at the International Series Macau presented by Wynn in March and the Saudi Open presented by PIF in April.

Catlin proved his credentials when he finished an impressive T24 on debut last time out at LIV Golf Houston, and he dialled things up a notch this weekend in Nashville.

The Sacramento native sat outright third on the leaderboard after the first round thanks to a five-under 66 that included four birdies in five holes around the turn.

The six-time Asian Tour winner was solo second going into the final round after another 66, which included three birdies in his closing five holes on Saturday.

Catlin ultimately finished T7 on 11 under, behind winner Tyrrell Hatton of Legion XIII, after a one-under 70 in his final round.

Catlin, who can improve his rankings at the International Series Morocco next week, admitted he would “love” to secure a permanent berth on the LIV Golf League next season.

He could do that by finishing first in The International Series Rankings at the end of the season but would also have another chance with a high rankings finish securing qualification for the season-ending LIV Golf Promotions event.

Last season over 30 players on the rankings were among the field battling it out for three additional golden tickets at the innovative event which took place in Abu Dhabi.

When asked if he would like a permanent berth on the LIV Golf League next season, Catlin said: “I hope so. I can tell you that right now; I would love to be out here.

“I would be lying if I said it didn't creep in there, but again, I don't really have any control over that. That is up to the captains. That is up to managers. That is up to the team organisation.

“If I just keep doing what I am 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 will just have to wait and see.

“Everybody has been very, very welcoming. It has felt like a pretty easy transition. I knew most of the guys coming in. I've been a pro for 11 years. I've played on pretty much every tour in the world. I've had a chance to meet all these guys before, and coming back, it just kind of felt like, hey, I haven't seen you in a while.”

Current rankings leader Carlos Ortiz, the International Series Oman and recent LIV Golf Houston champion, finished a shot further behind Catlin in T9 as part of a star-studded group featuring 2022 Open champion Cam Smith.

Elsewhere, and last year’s International Series Vietnam champion Kieran Vincent was celebrating as Legion XIII were crowned team champions.

The Zimbabwean, who earned his place in Jon Rahm’s team after booking his place in the LIV Golf Promotions event, finished T18. Skipper Rahm finished T3 behind the victorious Hatton, while young Caleb Surratt finished T25. The American youngster is set to make his debut on The International Series next week in Morocco alongside Vincent.

Fireballs GC star Eugenio Chacarra, who also finished T18 this weekend, is also in a strong field for the Royal Golf Dar Es Salam tournament, alongside Smash GC’s US Open 2010 champion Graeme McDowell, Range Goats GC player Peter Uihlein, Branden Grace from Stinger GC and the Iron Heads GC trio of Danny Lee, Jinichiro Kozuma and Scott Vincent.