Joaquin Niemann Dropped a 34-Footer and LIV Golf Korea Is Still Talking About It

Alright, Seattle, listen up! You gotta hear about what went down in South Korea. Joaquin Niemann, that dude is locked in! He just fired a 4-under 66 in the third round on Saturday, absolutely catching Talor Gooch for the lead at the LIV Golf Korea tournament. This guy moved to a ridiculous 9-under at Asiad Country Club, and honestly, his putter is officially on fire. He even said it himself, "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 bromance, and it’s paying off big time.

Niemann's Putter Goes Nuclear

Let's talk about that round. Niemann didn't just catch the lead, he earned it with six birdies and only two bogeys. But the real headline? His putter was just doing WORK. He rolled in three long birdie putts on Saturday, including a breaking 34-footer on the par-14 14th hole. Thirty-four feet! That's the kind of clutch shot that changes the entire vibe of a tournament. This isn't just a good day, this is a statement. Remember, Niemann holds the tour record with seven LIV Golf titles, including five in 2025 alone. But he's still hunting for his first title of this season, and you can feel the hunger.

The Pressure Cooker Field

While Niemann was dropping bombs, Talor Gooch, who was the second-round leader, had a much tougher day, carding a 69. His round was a grind, with 17 pars and only one birdie on the par-5 15th. He summed it up perfectly: "You've got to stay patient and just wait for your time and hope that it comes, and it unfortunately didn't come much today. But that's why we stay patient. Maybe tomorrow it'll come." You gotta respect the patience, but Niemann didn't give him much breathing room. One shot behind those two is Zimbabwe's Scott Vincent in solo third after a 67, which included four birdies and a bogey. Charles Howell III and Australia's Cameron Smith are tied for fourth at 7-under, both shooting 68. And don't sleep on Dustin Johnson, who had Saturday's low round with a bogey-free 64, putting him at 6-under, just three shots back. He's tied with New Zealand's Ben Campbell (66) and defending champion Bryson DeChambeau, whose 71 included four bogeys and three birdies. On the team side, DeChambeau's Crushers GC are sitting pretty at 16-under, one shot ahead of Gooch's OKGC. It's tight up there!

Sunday's Showdown: Who Wants It More?

So, what does this all mean for Sunday? Gooch is about to play in his 16th final group at an LIV Golf event, and Niemann will be in his 14th. The last time these two were in the final group together was LIV Golf Boston in 2022, and Johnson ended up taking that one. Joining them this time is Vincent, who's filling in for HyFlyers GC captain Phil Mickelson and chasing his first LIV Golf title. He's right there, saying, "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." This final round is going to be an absolute battle. Niemann's got the momentum and the hot putter. Gooch has the experience and the patience. Vincent is hungry for his first win. You know Niemann wants that first title of the season, and you know these guys are going to leave it all out on the course. Don't miss it!

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