Three seasons after first battling for a LIV Golf individual title, Dustin Johnson and Joaquin Niemann enter Sunday’s final round of LIV Golf Singapore presented by Aramco ready for another duel.
Niemann, the Torque GC captain, shot the best score in Saturday’s second round at Sentosa Golf Club, a seven-under 64 to grab a share of the lead with Johnson, the 4Aces GC captain who followed his opening 63 with a three-under 68.
The two are at 11 under, three shots better than their closest pursuers.
South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen shares 10th position on five under, with Stinger GC teammate and countryman Charl Schwartzel a further shot behind. Both carded 70 on Saturday.
Johnson’s team owns a five-stroke lead over Phil Mickelson’s HyFlyers GC in the team competition as the 4Aces hope to end a drought of 22 consecutive tournaments without a win.
Sergio Garcia’s Fireballs GC are in third place, eight strokes off the lead, as they seek a third consecutive tournament victory.
Johnson and Niemann are in the leaders’ group in the final round for the first time since Niemann made his LIV Golf debut in Boston during the 2022 Invitational Series season.
Johnson posted his first LIV Golf individual win that week by rolling in a dramatic eagle putt in a playoff that included Niemann.
“I still remember that day. It was my first week on LIV,” recalled Niemann. “He got it going, I got it going. I felt like I was the leader for a few holes, and he birdied back and then made an amazing putt on the playoff hole.”
While they have competed in the same group in subsequent LIV Golf tournaments, they’ve yet to duel with the lead entering the final round. The two players are among the most decorated in LIV Golf’s young history, with three individual tournaments each as well as multiple team victories.
“It’s always fun playing with DJ,” Niemann said. “I’m excited for that tomorrow.”
There are plenty of chasers hoping to catch the two with a hot round Sunday, including four players tied for third at eight under who are each after their first LIV Golf victory.
Niemann’s Torque teammate Sebastián Muñoz continued his fine play with a three-under 68 and finds himself inside the top five of the leaderboard for the eighth time after 11 rounds this season.
Ripper GC’s Lucas Herbert remains his team’s best performing player this season, shooting a five-under 66.
Smash GC’s Jason Kokrak also shot 66 and hopes to join teammates Talor Gooch (2023) and captain Brooks Koepka (2024) as Singapore individual winners.
“Good vibes with two teammates that have already won here,” Kokrak said. “I know the golf course well enough. I know what to do. It’s just going out there and actually doing it.”
Cameron Tringale shot his second consecutive 67 to lead the resurgent HyFlyers. Last week in Hong Kong, Mickelson posted his first individual podium finish as the HyFlyers tied for third as a team.
Tringale has not yet won an individual title and the HyFlyers have never won as a team. Sunday in Sentosa could be a special day if they can rally.
“We all just want it so bad,” Tringale said. “We want to prove to people that we’re a legitimate team. There’s no reason we can’t do it. We’re all excited about the chance.”
The 4Aces, meanwhile, want to return to the dominant force that won five times – including the Team Championship – in the inaugural eight-tournament 2022 season, and then twice in 2023 before the drought began.
“The competition is so good out here,” Johnson said. “The quality of players from top to bottom is pretty high. To win as a team, it’s really tough.”
Outdueling the red-hot Niemann, who already has one win this season in Adelaide, will be equally difficult.
“He’s been playing great this season,” Johnson said. “It’s going to be a tough challenge tomorrow.”
Photo: LIV Golf
