Joaquin Niemann additional underlined why the Masters committee discovered it inside themselves to problem the 25-year-old Chilean with a particular invitation to play at Augusta subsequent month when he ran away with the LIV Golf League’s occasion in Saudi Arabia.
The league’s homecoming occasion to the nation which is funding its very existence failed to attract a lot of a crowd, however that didn’t appear to overly trouble Neimann as he swept to a different $4m pay day after ending on 17 underneath par for 54 holes in Jeddah.
Niemann shot a remaining spherical 66 on Sunday to assert a four-stroke victory and add to his earlier triumph in final month’s season-opening event in Mexico. Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel tied for second, with the latter having fun with his finest end since profitable the inaugural occasion at Centurion Membership in England in June 2022 beta-test season, whereas Oosthuizen equalled his finest consequence as a LIV golfer.
The 2 victories within the first three occasions of 2024 moved Neimann to the highest of the season-long particular person championship standings and continued his scorching play that started through the LIV Golf low season when he gained the Australian Open.
“It’s in all probability my finest second, the most effective I’ve ever performed earlier than,” Niemann stated. “I simply need it to maintain getting into the identical path. I wish to really feel, and I wish to suppose, that I’m the most effective on a regular basis. I believe that’s the one option to be assured and play good golf.”
CRUSHERS COMEBACK
Within the crew occasion, Crushers, winner of final season’s crew championship, claimed their first title of 2024 with a dramatic comeback on Sunday. Beginning the ultimate spherical 11 pictures adrift of the leaders, captain Bryson DeChambeau (62) and his crew of Charles Howell III (64) and Anirban Lahiri (65) and Paul Casey (69) mixed to shoot 20 underneath for the day – eight pictures higher than every other crew – to complete at 38 underneath for a four-stroke victory over the Stingers, with Smash GC, winners of the earlier occasion in Las Vegas, ending third.
KIM LIMPS HOME LAST
On the backside finish of the scoreboard, new LIV signing Antony Kim completed his week stone final of those who accomplished three rounds. After a close to 12-year retirement, the 38-year-old American carded his finest rating of the week on Sunday with a 4-over 74 so as to add to earlier rounds of 76 for a 16 over whole.
Whereas the rust was evident, Kim stated he has loads to construct on as he prepares for his subsequent begin at LIV Golf Hong Kong. I’m very inspired,” Kim stated. “I’m enthusiastic about what’s coming. My sport is beginning to form up. I’m doing issues that I used to do earlier than.
“I positively performed rather a lot higher than the rating truly confirmed,” Kim stated of his remaining spherical. “I felt extra comfy at the moment than I did the primary two days. I shot 4-over par, however it may have been an under-par spherical if I had simply cleaned up a couple of issues. Sadly, it’s nonetheless taking me a pair holes to get comfy. I believe most of my over-par scores had been on the primary six holes. If I can simply determine a option to get my thoughts proper earlier than I get on the market, I believe I’ll be in nice form.”
