Joaquin Niemann's 34-Foot Bomb Has the LIV Tour on High Alert for His First Win of the Season

Get ready, golf fans, because Joaquin Niemann absolutely torched the course in South Korea, and the LIV Tour better be watching! Niemann brought the fire Saturday, carding a phenomenal 4-under 66. That performance means he’s now sharing the lead with Talor Gooch at 9-under overall at the LIV Golf Korea tournament. Folks, he’s hungry for his first victory of the season!

Niemann’s Putter Woke Up and Chose Victory

Niemann’s round was spectacular. Six birdies, two bogeys, and he hit that top spot. But the real magic? His putter! He rolled in three long birdie putts, including a breaking 34-footer on the par-14 14th hole. Thirty-four feet! He said, "Putter did behave a lot better today than the first two days, so pretty happy about that. It did love me a lot. I did love it a lot, too." Sounds like a true love affair, paying dividends!

This isn’t Niemann’s first rodeo. He holds the tour record with seven LIV Golf titles, five in 2025 alone. He knows how to close. Now, sharing the lead, the stage is set for him to snag that elusive first win of the current season. You know he’s not letting this chance slip away.

The Pressure Cooker in Busan: Who’s Chasing the Crown?

While Niemann was red-hot, co-leader Talor Gooch had a different day. Gooch posted a 69 with 17 pars and just one birdie on the par-5 15th, starting with 14 consecutive pars. He preached patience, saying, "You've got to stay patient and just wait for your time... it unfortunately didn't come much today. But that's why we stay patient. Maybe tomorrow it'll come."

Lurking one shot back in solo third is Scott Vincent from Zimbabwe, with a solid 67. He’s filling in for Phil Mickelson and looking for his first LIV Golf title. Vincent’s got the right mindset, admitting, "Winning out here is not easy. I think just big picture-wise, just putting myself in this position is just great for me, try and get better and develop as a player."

Further down, Charles Howell III and Cameron Smith are tied for fourth at 7-under. Dustin Johnson, who fired Saturday’s low, bogey-free 64, is three shots back at 6-under, alongside defending champion Bryson DeChambeau. With eight of the top-10 having LIV titles, this final round is stacked.

Final Round Showdown: Niemann vs. The World!

So, what’s next? It’s a final group showdown! Niemann is set for his 14th final group, Gooch for his 16th. These two faced high-pressure situations before, like LIV Golf Boston in 2022 when Dustin Johnson took the crown. This time, Scott Vincent joins them, hungry for his first win. With so many proven winners at the top, Sunday at Asiad Country Club will be an absolute battle. Will Niemann’s red-hot putter carry him to his first title of the season? We’ll be glued to every swing, hoping he brings that championship mentality and takes home the W!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.