After a pair of blistering rounds, Joaquin Niemann cooled off on Saturday yet clung to a two-stroke lead after three rounds of the LIV Golf New York event in Bedminster, N.J.
The Chilean stands at 14-under-par 199 after his third-round 70, but his lead shrank from five strokes to two during the third round as Harold Varner III vaulted up the leaderboard with a 65 at Trump National Golf Club.
Englishman Lee Westwood duplicated his Thursday round of 2-under 69 to drop into solo third at 10 under par. Westwood is three shots clear of Northern Ireland’s Tom McKibbin (70), while Spain’s Sergio Garcia (72) dropped eight shots off the pace.
The team scores took a beating in the windy conditions. Niemann’s Torque GC is the lone team under par at 1-under after amassing an 8-over score on Saturday. McKibbin’s Legion XIII side lapped the field with a 4-under round and closed to within two strokes.
Niemann, who played bogey-free golf through 36 holes while posting rounds of 64 and 65, opened with a double-bogey 6 after his drive on the 514-yard par 4 went out of bounds to the right.
He shot 36 on the front nine after solving the outward half in 30 on Thursday and Friday.
Niemann, looking for his ninth LIV Golf individual title, steadied himself on the inward half. He made birdies at Nos. 12 and 15, but another wayward drive cost him an opportunity for birdie on the finishing hole, a 580-yard par 5.
“I mean, it was a pretty good last 17 holes,” Niemann said. “Obviously not the best start. But pretty proud and happy the way I played today, especially coming into the end of the round.”
Varner started the day tied with McKibbin for fourth place, seven shots behind Niemann. He posted the lowest round of the day by a margin of three shots, making four birdies on the front nine on the way to a bogey-free round.
“Yeah, obviously it suits my game,” said Varner about the Bedminster layout. “It’s playing really long right now. Obviously it’s — I don’t know how long it is, but it’s an advantage for me. It’s a great opportunity to do something well.
“I feel like I’ve been playing well, and tomorrow is going to be a great chance.”
Westwood admitted to some fatigue coming down the stretch on a blustery day. He was at 12 under through 12 holes, but took a double bogey on No. 14 and a bogey at 16.
“I’m just pleased to be in good enough shape, my game still be at an elite level where I can compete with these guys that are some of the best in the world,” Westwood said. “Joaco is one of the best players in the world, in my eyes. You’ve got Jon Rahm and Bryson and Tyrrell, and they’re not even in contention this week.
“At 53 years of age, I think it’s quite an achievement to still be mixing it with the youngsters. If you go out there and watch us all playing, I’m giving up quite an advantage off the tee. Not all the time, I get the occasional one out there, but in general, I’m playing a different golf course, really.”
Niemann plans to carry an admirable attitude into the final round.
“I mean, just be grateful,” Niemann said. “I feel like if I just remember the good things that I have around me and the people around me, it’s just easy to go back to sleep. I have a good life.”
–Field Level Media
Discussion about this post