MIAMI RECAP: TORQUE FALL SHORT IN HUNT FOR TEAM SUCCESS AT DORAL
MIAMI - While Torque GC came up short in their quest to win a first team title this season, the Spanish-speaking combination played well enough to improve their position each day before finishing in a tie for fourth at LIV Golf Miami on Sunday.
In-form captain Joaquin Niemann once again led the way, shooting a 1-under 71 to finish in a five-way tie for ninth at 6-under after 54 holes at Trump National Doral.
Carlos Ortiz was next best, ending up joint 14th after closing with a 68, while Sebastian Muñoz also returned a 68 to share 27th place at 4-under. Mito Pereira was the only player in the quartet to struggle in the final round as he mixed four double-bogeys and a bogey with three birdies in a 78 to wind up in a tie for 32nd.
"We had a good start to the day," said Niemann, who began the final round five shots behind overnight leader Sergio Garcia but steadily worked his way up the leaderboard over his first nine holes.
The Chilean professional birdied the fifth, sixth and eighth to get to 7-under, double-bogeyed the ninth, but picked up another shot at the 10th and then eagled the par-5 12th to sit just three strokes off the lead. However, he then bogeyed the 15th and the par-5 first to slip back to 6-under.
"We had some chances over the last couple of holes but we didn't play nearly our best on those couple of holes. My first nine holes today were pretty good. At the start, I did what I needed to do to have a chance. But it's a tough course and I didn't hit all the shots that I needed to. But, overall, it was good."
Niemann has been the hottest player in the LIV Golf League this season, winning twice in his first four starts of the 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.
At Trump National Doral, Niemann ranked joint second in scrambling, seventh in driving distance and joint 11th for greens in regulation.
He will certainly be among the leading contenders for next week’s Masters title, having produced seven top-five finishes in his last nine worldwide starts.
"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. "Also, my putting has improved a lot too ... I am now getting to see the ball going into the hole more often and that is helping me to see some results."
While Torque have not quite matched their sensational form in 2023 when they triumphed four times, they have still performed very well this season - placing third, sixth, fourth, second and joint fourth to date.
"The team is obviously feeling pretty good," said Niemann. "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 feel like we are doing everything pretty good."