MIAMI PREVIEW: TORQUE EYE TEAM SUCCESS AT DORAL WITH NIEMANN LEADING
MIAMI - Spearheaded this season by in-form captain Joaquin Niemann, Torque GC has come desperately close to landing another team title and all the signs point to potential success this week at LIV Golf Miami.
While Niemann has already won two individual titles in just four starts this year, the Spanish-speaking combination have placed third, sixth, fourth and second - not quite matching their sensational form in 2023 when they triumphed four times.
"The team is obviously feeling pretty good," Chilean professional Niemann said ahead of Friday's opening round at Trump National Doral. "Last year, we had four wins, and the team played amazing. I didn't play my best but we still managed to get four wins. But now we are moving close.
"I really like this new Sunday format with the four scorecards because, for our team, it gives us a better chance. We haven't been starting that hot in the first couple of events over the first two days but we are giving ourselves some chances on the Sunday, which is good. It's just a matter of time and a little luck."
The LIV Golf League introduced a new policy this season whereby all four scores count in the final round.
In Hong Kong, Torque GC placed seventh after the opening round, improved to joint fourth after day two and then surged into second spot on the Sunday after they collectively shot 12 under. However, that was not enough to overhaul the triumphant Crushers, who fired an aggregate 14 under in the final round.
"I feel like we are doing everything pretty good," said Niemann, who finished just one stroke outside a three-way playoff for the LIV Golf Hong Kong title which was clinched by Fireballs GC's Abraham Ancer.
"It's just that for example the Crushers, they have played amazing in the last two events and I don't think there is anything to do against that. It's just good golf. I mean they didn't make any bogeys for two rounds which is pretty impressive. If it wasn't that the Crushers had played that good, we could have won."
Something else that could give Torque GC a welcome boost this week is their recent history at Trump National Doral. Last October, they finished third at the Team Championship in Miami while Carlos Ortiz, who was then playing for the Fireballs, fired a closing 64 - the lowest score in the field.
"It's a super tough course but, if we play good on Sunday, I think we are going to have a really good chance," said Niemann. "Carlos played good on the Sunday last year and Sebastian (Muñoz) played amazing against (Branden) Grace to win 7 and 6 last year in match play - he made like eight birdies. And this place is a really good set-up for Mito (Pereira), so it's a pretty good course for us."
As for Niemann, he has been LIV Golf's standout player this year. He clinched the season-opening LIV Golf Mayakoba on the fourth playoff hole after firing a spectacular 12-under 59 in the opening round, shared 30th place at LIV Golf Las Vegas, won LIV Golf Jeddah by four strokes and then tied for fourth at LIV Golf Hong Kong.
"I am more determined in my game and also my driver has been pretty good this year - it's the best I have seen it right now," said Niemann, who has produced seven top-five finishes in his last eight worldwide starts.
"Also, my putting has improved a lot too and I feel like that was something I was struggling a little bit with before. I am now getting to see the ball going into the hole more often and that is helping me to see some results."