Niemann holds nerves, lifts LIV Adelaide trophy

ADELAIDE, Australia (AFP) — Chile’s Joaquin Niemann held his nerve to capture a third LIV Golf title Sunday with a seven-under-par 65, rebuffing Mexican pair Abraham Ancer and Carlos Ortiz by three shots in Adelaide.

The 26-year-old began the day three behind joint leaders Ancer, Ortiz and England’s Sam Horsfield, but reeled them in at Grange Golf Club with a near faultless round, sinking seven birdies.

In front of bumper crowds and a carnival atmosphere, he finished 54 holes at 13-under, three clear of Ortiz (71) and Ancer (71), who caved into the pressure with three bogeys in his last five holes.

Spain’s David Puig was fourth, four off the pace, and England’s Richard Bland a shot further back.

The Sergio Garcia-captained Fireballs took out the team title.

“Man, I love it,” Niemann said.

“I’m trying to feel chilled now because I didn’t want him to get out of that game rhythm, because you never know what could happen.”

“But yeah, now for that relief.”

Niemann won his first LIV title at Mayakoba last year in a playoff against Garcia and added another at Jeddah.

He has history Down Under, winning the Australian Open at Sydney in 2023, his only European Tour victory. He has also won twice on the PGA Tour and said he now feels ready to challenge at the majors.

“Obviously, that’s something that we all work for. It’s something that I know I can do,” he said, with Neimann eligible to play three of the four major tournaments.

“It’s just a matter of, you know, that week being my week. I just need to be patient.”

Ancer began with two birdies to open a two-shot lead from Ortiz and Horsfield.

But Niemann drilled four birdies on the front nine to move within a stroke at the turn.

The Chilean then sank another birdie at the par-three 12th to draw level, only for Ancer, in the group behind, to match the feat with a long-range putt and regain the lead.

Niemann struck again with a birdie on the 15th while Ancer hit the bunker off the tee at the 14th to card his first bogey and relinquish the lead.

A 15-foot putt for a birdie at the 16th kept Ancer in touch, but he crumbled on the last two holes, missing the fairway on both to record back-to-back bogeys and hand Niemann the win.