Torque GC captain Niemann wins record 9th title at LIV Golf New York

BEDMINSTER, N.J. – Torque GC Captain Joaquin Niemann extended his record to nine tournament wins with a clutch back-nine performance to shoot a 2-under 69 and win by three shots at LIV Golf New York. “A great feeling to have, especially coming down the stretch on how tough this golf course is,” said the 27-year-old Chilean, the league’s youngest captain.

Niemann was certainly the most impressive individual player at Bedminster, shooting 16 under to become the fifth wire-to-wire winner this season and winning for the second time in his last four starts.

Entering the day with a two-stroke lead, he was tied with Harold Varner III through 11 holes. But after Varner suffered his first bogey at the day at the 12th, Niemann followed with a 58-foot birdie putt at the 13th to re-establish his two-stroke advantage. Two holes later at the par-5 15th, Niemann’s second shot landed 26 feet from the pin, and he drilled the eagle putt to essentially seal the tournament.

“I was going to be pretty happy with two putts there, and it was quite a surprise to make that one,” said Niemann about his long putt on the 13th. “It’s one of those that I just go to be grateful about it and just go pick it up and run. It was a big moment.”

In the team competition, Torque GC finished tied for second at +8. Crushers GC won with a cumulative score of 6 over, the highest ever by a winning team in LIV Golf history.

TOP OF THE LEADERBOARDS

Individual Top 10

1 (-16) – Joaquin Niemann, Torque (64-65-70-69)

2 (-13) – Harold Varner, OKGC (69-67-65-70)

T3 (-9) – Lee Westwood, Majesticks (69-65-69-72); Scott Vincent, HyFlyers (69-68-72-66)

5 (-7) – Byeong Hun An, Korean (72-68-68-69)

T6 (-6) – Thomas Pieters, 4Aces (68-70-70-70); Tom McKibbin, Legion XIII (70-66-70-72); Paul Casey, Crushers (70-67-73-68)

T9 (-4) – Younghan Song, Korean (72-70-68-70); Branden Grace, Southern Guards (73-69-72-66)

Team Top 3

1 (+6) – Crushers GC (DeChambeau 76-74-70-71, Casey 70-67-73-68, Howell III 75-69-71-73, Lahiri 74-67-73-71; Rd. 4 score: -1)

T2 (+8) – Legion XIII (Rahm 72-71-73-76, Hatton 73-76-69-72, McKibbin 70-66-70-72, Surratt 76-69-68-71; Rd. 4 score: +7)

T2 (+8) – Torque GC (Niemann 64-65-70-69, Ancer 71-72-70-76, Ortiz 71-71-76-73, Munoz 74-71-76-75; Rd. 4 score: +9)

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ROUND 4 NOTES

NIEMANN’S NINE WINS: Joaquin Niemann won twice in 2024, five times last season and now twice again this season. He now has as many wins as Bryson DeChambeau (five) and Jon Rahm (four) combined.

“It's an honor to play with Bryson,” Niemann said. “Obviously he's a major champion, two times. I was able to play with him on Thursday. Obviously didn't play his best, but it's always nice to be around him and try to learn from everyone. …

“I played with Jon almost every weekend for the last two years. How competitive he is, he definitely doesn't like losing, and I'm the same way as well.

“It's fun. For me it's good motivation to win. I love winning. I love to come here and work my ass and try to have the best chance possible to win.”

PODIUM SPOTS STILL UP FOR GRABS: Even though Jon Rahm has clinched the season-long Individual Championship, the other two spots on the podium will be determined at LIV Golf Indianapolis in two weeks.

Bryson DeChambeau currently is in second place in the standings with 726.20 points, with Joaquin Niemann in third at 553.66 points. Lucas Herbert is fourth at 541.41 points and Tyrrell Hatton is fifth at 453.23 points.

Those four players will battle it out for the second and third place finishers behind Rahm.