JEDDAH RECAP: NIEMANN WINS SECOND LIV GOLF TITLE THIS YEAR; TORQUE FINISH FOURTH
KING ABDULLAH ECONOMIC CITY, Saudi Arabia – Joaquin Niemann underlined his credentials as one of the hottest players in the game with yet another tournament win while he and his Torque teammates were able to celebrate a fourth-place finish on Sunday at LIV Golf Jeddah.
Niemann, who led by two shots heading into the final round at a blustery Royal Greens Golf & Country Club after shooting a 6-under 64 on Saturday, signed off with a sparkling 66 to clinch his second victory this season in just three LIV Golf League starts.
It was his third win in his last seven appearances worldwide - a stretch that included his first European Tour success at the ISPS Handa Australian Open in December, as well as three other top-five finishes.
"This feels amazing," Niemann said after posting a 17-under total of 193. "It's a super special moment. It's always nice when you win ... I'm proud of the way I'm playing right now, and the way I played out there today. It was a tough day. It was windy. I knew there was going to be some low scores, so I'm super happy."
Niemann, who won the season-opening LIV Golf Mayakoba in Mexico after firing a spectacular 12-under 59 in the opening round, ended his week at Royal Greens leading the field in birdies (with a total of 19).
"I never felt like I had one shot today where I was kind of doubting or struggling a little bit," said the 25-year-old Chilean professional. "Sometimes I took a little bit more time trying to see the shot but all the shots ... they were confident swings. I'm pretty proud of the way I was able to see the ball flight, and being able to hit them."
As for his remarkable run of form stretching back to last November and the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship, where he placed fifth, Niemann said that his confidence level was as high as it had ever been.
"I feel like this is probably my best moment, the best I've ever played before," he added. "I just want it to keep going in the same direction. 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."
Niemann received good support from his three teammates on Sunday as the Spanish-speaking combination posted a collective total of 32-under for the week. Mexican Carlos Ortiz closed with a 65, Chilean Mito Pereira with a 68 and Colombian Sebastian Muñoz with a 69 as Torque secured fourth place, following their third spot at the season opener in Mexico and a sixth-place showing in Las Vegas.
"There are a lot of positive things that I've got to take from this week, obviously because of winning, and see what I can do better for next week," Niemann said, referring to the March 8-10 LIV Golf Hong Kong. "Like I said also in Mexico, I love to be in this situation, but having the three other guys here (on the winner’s podium) next to me would be a lot more fun."
Niemann is especially excited by how much his driving has improved, and his ability to hit a high draw.
"Everything is going a little better," he said. "My driving since Australia has been so good. I've been able to hit all the trajectories that I want to and I've been confident with those. I can be aggressive off the tee, hitting that high draw more often than I normally do. Doing that shot, I gain at least 20 yards on the other routine low cut that I had before.
"Being confident with that high draw has helped me be more confident with the rest of my game. Everything is going better. I feel like I'm chipping a lot better. I know I can get a lot better around the greens, and I think that's what you need to play really good and consistent golf, especially in the majors."
A winner twice this season in just three LIV Golf starts, the ultra-confident Niemann is unquestionably the player to beat at this week's LIV Golf Hong Kong.