LIV Golf Tour
Niemann Wins LIV Golf Season-Opener In An Epic Playoff
Joaquin Niemann buried a 12-foot birdie putt at the fourth playoff hole to win LIV Golf Mayakoba, Mexico. The 25-year-old from Chile outlasted Spain’s Sergio Garcia in the dark at Mayakoba’s El Camaleon Golf Course.
Niemann fired a sizzling 12-under 59 during the first round. The stunning wire-to-wire performance was his first title on the Saudi-backed tour. Niemann scored two PGA TOUR wins before moving to the LIV Golf Tour. In late 2023, he won the Australian Open title and finished fifth at the Australian PGA Championship.
Garcia fired a final round 5-under 66 to reach the playoff with Niemann at 12-under. The former Masters champion peeled off six birdies at his opening eight holes on Sunday.
Jon Rahm missed the playoff by two shots after making bogeys at the closing two holes. It was the Spaniard’s maiden start on the LIV Golf Tour. He finished in a tie for third place at 10 under with South Africa’s Dean Burmester. Although Rahm missed out on the individual title, he did lead his newly formed Legion XIII to the team title, four strokes ahead of Bryson DeChambeau-led Crushers GC.
Cam Smith was the best-placed Australian. The Queenslander got to 7-under for a T8 result after carding a final round 4-under 67. Smith’s all-Aussie Ripper GC took a share of fourth place in the team contest.
In the individual event, Niemann earned US$4 million, Garcia US$2.25 million and Rahm and Burmester US$1.25 million each. Rahm and Legion XIII teammates Tyrrell Hatton, Caleb Surratt and Kieran Vincent will share US$3 million in the team competition.
Final Scores
Individual
1. Joaquin Niemann -12
2. Sergio Garcia -12
T3. Jon Rahm -10
T3. Dean Burmester -10
T5. Dustin Johnson -8
T5. Charles Howell III -8
T5. Brooks Koepka -8
Australians
T8. Cameron Smith -7
T21. Lucas Herbert -2
T25. Marc Leishman -1
T25. Matt Jones -1
Team
1. Legion XIII -24
2. Crushers -20
3. Torque -17
T4. Ripper -16
T4. Stinger -16
Image credit: Manuel Velasquez/Getty Images
