Greenbrier Preview: Niemann eyes individual crown as Torque target a first team win in 2024
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W. Va. – Torque GC has plenty to play for at this week's LIV Golf Greenbrier where captain Joaquin Niemann could emerge triumphant in the season-long race to become the 2024 LIV Golf Individual Champion.
While Torque collectively will be eager to bounce back from a disappointing ninth place in their most recent start - at last month's LIV Golf UK - Niemann is one of just six players who remain mathematically alive to clinch the coveted individual title, which will be finalized at next month's LIV Golf Chicago.
Niemann has led the race throughout the year and could secure the title if he wins Greenbrier and Jon Rahm finishes no better than third. Although Rahm finally won his first LIV Golf individual crown in the UK, he picked up just 16 points on Niemann, who tied for second at JCB Golf & Country Club.
Chilean professional Niemann has been LIV Golf's standout player during 2024 and he continues to set the pace atop the season-long individual standings where he has a 24-point lead over Rahm, and 46 points over third-placed Tyrrell Hatton.
"I just want it to keep going in the same direction," said Niemann, who clinched the season-opening LIV Golf Mayakoba in a playoff before winning in Jeddah by four strokes just two tournaments later. "I think there is a lot more to improve, and I just need to be curious about that and see how much I can learn.
"I want to feel and I want to think I'm the best all the time. I think that's the only way to be confident and play good golf. It's something that you need - to believe in yourself to be out here playing competitive golf and winning tournaments."
Niemann will head into Friday's opening round at The Old White course fresh from top-10 finishes in his last two starts. He tied for second at LIV Golf UK after reeling off seven birdies in the first 16 holes en route to a closing 65, then shared ninth place in the men's Olympic golf competition at Le Golf National on the outskirts of Paris.
"I would say this year is the best golf I have ever played," Niemann smiled. "I think every aspect of my game is improving a lot. My short game needs a lot of improvement, and I know that, if my short game can be up there like my putter has been, I'll be fighting in many tournaments."
While Torque will still be feeling a little bruised after experiencing its first disappointing week of the season at LIV Golf UK, the all-Spanish speaking combination could not feel any happier on its return to The Old White course.
Twelve months ago, Torque clinched team honors at LIV Golf Greenbrier by three shots over Bryson DeChambeau's Crushers GC after posting a 49-under total - the lowest counting score ever posted by a team champion.
Mito Pereira finished second on the individual leaderboard after closing with a 63 while Niemann and David Puig both returned 66s to supply the other counting scores in the final round.
"We all knew that we've got enough golf to beat all the other teams, and we're proving that," Niemann said. "We've been playing great golf all season."
Torque have certainly been playing great golf this season, though they are yet to clinch their first team victory of 2024 after notching a league-high four wins last year. Prior to their disappointing ninth place at LIV Golf UK, they had previously produced 10 successive finishes of top six or better.
"As a team, we just need to play a little better," said Mexican Carlos Ortiz, who won his first individual LIV Golf title in Houston two months ago. "Joaquin has been playing really good golf this year and the rest of us are starting to get to that same place. It's just a matter of time before we get that team win."
That time could very well coincide with this week's LIV Golf Greenbrier.