VIRGINIA — Chile's Joaquin Niemann delivered a stunning late surge, carding four birdies in the final five holes to secure a dramatic victory over Graeme McDowell at the LIV Golf Invitational in Virginia. The 25-year-old claimed his fourth LIV Golf title of the season, further cementing his status as one of the league's most dominant players.
Niemann, who entered the final round with a slim one-shot lead, faced fierce competition from Northern Ireland's McDowell. The pair traded blows throughout the back nine, but Niemann's clutch putting under pressure proved decisive. His winning total of 15-under-par (198) edged McDowell by two strokes, with South Africa's Dean Burmester finishing third at 12-under.
A Thrilling Final-Round Duel
The final round at The Greenbrier's Old White Course was a masterclass in competitive golf. McDowell, the 2010 U.S. Open champion, applied relentless pressure, sinking a 20-foot eagle putt on the par-5 12th to briefly tie Niemann. "I knew Graeme wasn’t going away," Niemann admitted afterward. "He’s a major winner for a reason—I had to dig deep."
The turning point came at the par-3 15th, where Niemann drained a 12-foot birdie to regain the lead. He followed it with:
- A 10-foot birdie on the 16th after a precision 7-iron approach
- A two-putt birdie on the par-5 17th
- A closing 8-foot birdie on 18 to seal the win
Niemann's Dominant Season
With this victory, Niemann becomes the first player to win four LIV Golf events in a single season. His 2024 triumphs include:
- Mayakoba (February)
- Jeddah (March)
- Singapore (April)
- Virginia (June)
"Joaquin is playing golf at another level right now," said McDowell, who carded a bogey-free 64 in the final round. "When a guy makes four birdies in the last five holes with that much pressure, you just tip your cap. I threw everything at him today."
Key Tournament Stats
Niemann's statistical dominance was evident across the board:
- Driving Accuracy: 78.6% (1st in field)
- Greens in Regulation: 83.3% (2nd)
- Putts per GIR: 1.67 (1st)
- Scrambling: 92.3% (1st)
The Winning Putt
The tournament's defining moment came on the 18th green, where Niemann faced a slippery downhill putt for birdie. "I visualized that putt all night," he revealed. "When it dropped, I just felt this incredible rush—all the hard work paying off in that second."
Team Competition
Niemann's Torque GC also claimed the team title at 40-under-par, edging McDowell's Cleeks GC by three strokes. The Chilean's performance earned his team a $3 million prize, while his individual win netted $4 million—the largest paycheck in LIV Golf Virginia's history.
The victory extends Niemann's lead in the season-long Individual Championship standings. With 192 points, he now holds a 58-point advantage over second-place Jon Rahm. "My goal is to win every event I play," Niemann stated. "This format with team and individual competition brings out my best."
Looking Ahead
The LIV Golf circuit now moves to Nashville (June 21-23), where Niemann will aim for an unprecedented fifth win. Golf analysts are already speculating about a potential Grand Slam of LIV events this season. As McDowell put it: "When Joaquin gets in this zone, he's nearly unbeatable. The rest of us are just trying to keep pace."
