Confidence builds as Joaquin Niemann eyes Major success after LIV Singapore victory

SINGAPORE – Joaquin Niemann has been in impressive form of late, winning six times in the last 16 months, but he yearns for more. To be precise: Getting his hands on an elusive first Major title.

In 22 appearances at the Majors, the Chilean has missed seven cuts and his best showing came at the 2023 Masters, where he tied for 16th place. 

While he admitted his Major disappointment is “something that kind of bothers” him, the 26-year-old is also confident that his time will come, and his LIV Singapore victory on March 16 will surely attest to that.

At Sentosa Golf Club’s Serapong Course, Niemann carded a six-under 65 to sign for a 17-under 196 total, securing his second victory of the year after his LIV Adelaide title on Feb 16. 

He finished five strokes ahead of American defending champion Brooks Koepka (65), with New Zealander Ben Campbell (67) coming in third on 202.

Niemann said: “If you ask me, I’m pretty sure and I’m pretty calm about it because I know it’s going to come.

“I know I’m going to win a Major, I know it’s going to happen. Maybe not at the Masters (starting on April 10), maybe yes. I have no idea. I just know it’s going to happen.”

He had woken up feeling “a little bit more anxious” knowing that he was up against an in-form Sebastian Munoz and Dustin Johnson, with whom he had a share of the lead going into the final day of the tournament.

But the nerves quickly dissipated as Niemann claimed the sole lead after sinking a 30-foot putt to open the round with a birdie.

While Niemann enjoyed a good start, his flight mates had contrasting fortunes.

Former world No. 1 Johnson’s round unravelled with four bogeys and two birdies, while Colombia’s Munoz mixed two bogeys with three birdies.

They shot a 73 and 70 respectively to eventually end joint-fifth alongside Louis Oosthuizen (67), Jon Rahm (67) and Cameron Tringale (70).

As the fight for the title intensified with Koepka joining the fray, Niemann kept his cool, firing five more birdies to widen the gap between him and the rest of the field.

He returned with an unblemished scorecard, displaying confidence with two sand saves.

On the par-four 12th, his tee shot found a bunker on the left of the fairway, but Niemann’s approach shot with a seven-iron landed six feet from the hole and he one-putted for a birdie.

Calling it the best shot of the week for him, Niemann also believes that it showed his progress as a golfer.

He said: “I feel like it put a smile on my face when I hit that shot.

“It was probably one of the toughest shots that I had during the day and I ended up hitting it really close.”

Even with his commanding lead, Niemann barely showed any emotions, maintaining his composure throughout the round.

In full view of the crowd that had gathered at the 18th and a sizeable group of fans watching from behind after slipping inside the ropes, he pumped his fists after tapping in his final putt that bagged him the title and the winner’s cheque of US$4 million (S$5.4 million).

Celebrations ensued as Niemann was congratulated by Munoz and Johnson, before being doused in champagne by his Torque GC teammates, and then embracing his wife Christina Hellema Puga.

On whether there was a moment he knew victory was his, he said: “I felt really good out there. I felt more in control of the game and I was really in control of myself.”

With the win, Niemann leapt to the top of the LIV overall standings, overtaking Sergio Garcia, whose Fireballs GC won their third consecutive team title with a 22-under 830. Rahm’s Legions XIII were three strokes adrift in the chase for the US$3 million prize.

He will be aiming to carry the momentum from Singapore to his next two tournaments – the April 4-6 LIV Miami and the Masters.

He said: “I feel like I’m just proud of the work that I’m putting in... I’m really looking forward for the next two weeks that I have to get ready and put the best preparation and the most effort so I can build that confidence for those two weeks.”