Chile’s Joaquin Niemann followed his stunning 59 in the opening round of LIV Golf Mayakoba with a one-under par 70 on Saturday, while South Africa’s Dean Burmester shared second.
Niemann, who made 10 birdies and an eagle on Friday at the 54-hole event in Mexico, had four birdies and three bogeys Saturday to stand on 13-under 129 after 36 holes.
Niemann led by five when the day began but his margin was trimmed by a shot in round two.
Third-ranked Jon Rahm, the reigning Masters champion playing in his first LIV event, fired a four-under 67 to match Burmester in second on nine-under 133.
The 29-year-old Spaniard, who defected from the PGA Tour in December, started on the 2nd hole in the shotgun start and made his lone bogey at the 3rd before following with five birdies, two on par-five holes and two more on par-three holes.
Niemann’s round is not the lowest in the history of the Saudi-backed upstart series as its third campaign begins. American Bryson DeChambeau carded a 58 to win last year’s LIV Golf Greenbrier title in August.
Negotiations remain ongoing between the PGA Tour and DP World Tour with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund to complete a framework agreement for a merger unveiled last June.
© Agence France-Presse
Photo: Charles Laberge/LIV Golf
