Joaquin Niemann pulled off an incredible comeback Sunday at LIV Golf Adelaide, shooting a flawless 65 to claim victory by three shots.
The 26-year-old Chilean started the day three strokes behind the leaders but played like a man on a mission.
“I knew I had to do something special,” Niemann said after his win.
And special it was. While his competitors stumbled down the stretch, Niemann stayed steady, making crucial birdies on holes 15 and 18 to seal the deal.
Abraham Ancer and Carlos Ortiz tied for second place, but their final rounds told very different stories.
Ancer looked like he might run away with it early, making birdies on his first two holes. But three bogeys in his last five holes opened the door for Niemann.
“Obviously the last two holes were rough,” Ancer admitted. “But I think it’s just fuel for the rest of the season.”
Ortiz, Niemann’s teammate, never found his rhythm. Early bogeys put him behind, and despite finishing with back-to-back birdies, it was too little too late.
Sam Horsfield, who started the day tied for the lead, had an especially tough time. Four bogeys on the back nine dropped him into a tie for seventh.
The team competition brought some consolation for Ancer, as his Fireballs GC squad took home the team title. They finished at 21-under, six shots ahead of Jon Rahm’s Legion XIII.
It’s a pretty remarkable achievement for the Fireballs – they’re now the only team to win at least one title in all four LIV Golf seasons.
“Super proud of the way they all fought,” said Sergio Garcia, captain of the Fireballs.
The LIV Golf tour now heads to Asia for back-to-back events, starting with Hong Kong on March 7-9, followed by Singapore the next week.
For Niemann, this win proves he can handle the pressure when it matters most.
“Days like today makes me grow as a player,” he said. “If I could have these Sundays more often, chasing leaders, it would be really good for my game.”
