Joaquin Niemann counting on lucky charm after going joint-top with Dustin Johnson at LIV S’pore

SINGAPORE – Joaquin Niemann’s scintillating displays at LIV Singapore have given him a share of the lead going into the final round on March 16 and he hopes that his new lucky charm will help him get across the line, as he eyes his second title of the season.

Before the start of the first round on March 14, a young fan gave the Chilean a bracelet, which he has worn on the opening two days of the tournament.

The wrist accessory, with beads spelling out his given name, seems to have brought Niemann some luck as he opened with a four-under 67, before shooting a seven-under 64 – the best score on March 15.

With an 11-under 131 total, he has gone from tied-third to the top of the leaderboard, alongside overnight leader Dustin Johnson (68).

Revealing how he got his “special” charm, he said: “Normally, on the first tee they have the ‘little sharks’ where all the kids are standing on the side and one of them was trying to reach out to me because she had a wristband.

“I told her to come over. (LIV chief executive) Scott (O’Neil) was there. She gave me the wristband, and I will see if it’s a lucky charm.”

Teeing off on the second hole in the shotgun start on March 15, the 26-year-old wasted no time as he picked up four birdies in his opening six holes.

While his run was halted by a bogey on the eighth, Niemann, who needed just 25 putts in the second round, bounced back with four birdies, including three consecutive ones from the 10th hole.

He added: “I feel like during the whole day it was pretty solid. 

“I was hitting the ball really nice, I was putting really good, so I think that helped me to develop the extra shots because it was a similar round to yesterday but just I made a few more putts.

“I feel like that changed the whole momentum of the round.”

It is more than just the US$4 million (S$5.33 million) winner’s cheque on the line for Niemann, who won LIV’s Adelaide event in February.

A victory would give him precious points that could earn him a place at the US Open, the only Major in 2025 he does not have a spot in.

In February, the US Golf Association introduced a formal qualification pathway for LIV players into the US Open, with the highest-placed golfer in the top three of LIV’s individual standings – who is otherwise not exempt – as at May 19 earning a ticket to the June 12-15 US Open.

Niemann is currently fourth in the standings, which is led by Spain’s Sergio Garcia.

He said: “First of all, I want to obviously win the tournament... But it’s definitely on my mind that there’s a spot for the US Open, which I’m not in.

“It would be nice to have a good Sunday and have that opportunity to go past Sergio and have that lead. 

“It’s still a few weeks away from that qualifier cut, so it’s definitely going to help.”

He will have to hold off competition from former world No. 1 Johnson, who mixed five birdies with two bogeys in the second round after a blemish-free opening day.

But the 40-year-old American felt there was not much difference between the two days and hopes to be able to carry his form into the final round.

The two-time Major winner is relishing going head-to-head with Niemann, saying: “I’ve played with Joaco a lot. Obviously, he’s a really good player.

“He’s been playing great this season, it’s going to be a tough challenge. 

“I’ve just got to go out and play my game and see what I can do.”

Defending champion Brooks Koepka (69) sits tied-eighth with Paul Casey (69) on six-under 136, while Johnson’s 4Aces GC are in the running for the US$3 million prize for the top team as they lead on 20-under 548, five strokes ahead of Phil Mickelson’s HyFlyers GC.