Joaquin Niemann’s gritty even-par 71 was enough to give the 23-year-old Chilean a two-shot triumph in the Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club this past Sunday.
Niemann couldn’t match the fireworks of the back-to-back 63s he shot on Thursday and Friday. But his 19 under total of 265 gave him a two-stroke victory over world No 2 two Collin Morikawa and US rookie Cameron Young.
Morikawa surged up the leaderboard with an impressive six-under-par 65 for 267, while Young, who started the day three adrift, carded a one under 70.
“To be honest, it was a really long day today,” admitted Niemann, who was feeling the pressure to complete a wire-to-wire victory and claim a second career title after winning at The Greenbrier in 2019. “I’m so happy it’s finally done.”
Niemann could finally smile as he accepted the trophy from tournament host Tiger Woods.
“He’s one of my idols, I always watched him on TV and I still do,” Niemann said of 15-time Major champion Woods, who fulfilled his hosting duties but didn’t play as he continues to recover from devastating leg injuries suffered in a car crash last year.
The field featured all of the world’s top 10-ranked players, which also made the victory special, Niemann said.
“It proves I can play with the top guys, I can be up there in the world ranking,” he said. “I think it’s going to give me a lot of confidence for what is coming next.”
Niemann, who had already broken the tournament’s 36-hole and 54-hole scoring records, had a chance to break the 37-year-old 72-hole record of 264 set by Lanny Wadkins back in 1985.
But even though he led all week, there were some tense moments on Sunday – starting with a birdie miss from within four feet at the opening hole.
He bogeyed the 7th, where he was in a fairway bunker and three-putted. But he made the turn even for the day after a seven-foot birdie putt at the 8th – where Young bogeyed to fall back.
Niemann missed another short birdie attempt at the 10th, then chipped in for eagle at the 11th to reach 21 under – and take a five-shot lead over playing partner Young.
But back-to-back bogeys at the 14th and 15th – where his five-foot putt for par lipped out – had Niemann’s lead dwindling again.
Young, who was one over for the day through 10 holes, gained ground with a birdie at the 11th and a hole-out for birdie at 15 after he’d been in a fairway bunker.
But he couldn’t apply consistent pressure, giving a stroke back when he was unable to get up and down from a greenside bunker at the par-three 16th before his last birdie of the day at the 17th.
“Overall, you finish tied for second at Riviera, I can’t complain,” Young said. “I mean, I’m lucky just to be here and I know it does some good things for me going forward, so I am happy with the week, for sure.”
Morikawa, who could have toppled Spain’s Jon Rahm from the No 1 world ranking with a victory this week, holed out for a birdie at the 7th and an eagle at the 10th in his impressive round.
He was within two after draining a seven-foot birdie putt at the 17th but couldn’t get his birdie attempt from just inside 10 feet to fall at the last.
© Agence France-Presse
