Niemann leads in Bedminster
Joaquin Niemann, captain of Torque GC, is positioned to add to his record of individual tournament wins in LIV Golf history. He holds a two-shot lead entering the final round of LIV Golf New York at Trump National Bedminster. Niemann finished Saturday’s round at 14 under, despite an initial double bogey. His round of 1-under 70 followed scores of 64 and 65 in the previous rounds.
Niemann, who is 27 years old, is the league’s youngest captain. He recovered from an opening double bogey, which occurred after his tee shot went into a native area, requiring a penalty drop. He recorded two more bogeys on his front nine but countered these with three birdies. He then played the back nine bogey-free, finishing 2 under.
Harold Varner III of OKGC is in solo second place at 12 under, following a 6-under 65 on Saturday. Varner’s round was the only bogey-free performance of the day and was three shots better than any other player in the field. His recent form includes two top-10 finishes in his last three starts, and he is seeking his second career LIV Golf title. Varner has played the front nine at Bedminster bogey-free, totaling 10 under for the week on those holes.
Lee Westwood, co-captain of Majesticks GC, is in solo third, four shots behind Niemann at 10 under. Westwood, who is 53 years old, could become the oldest winner on any major professional tour if he secures a victory. He played 12 holes in 5 under after an opening bogey on Saturday, moving within one shot of the lead before a double bogey on the par-3 14th hole. This marks Westwood’s second time in the final group on Sunday this season; he previously finished third in Singapore.
No other players are within six shots of the lead, suggesting a potential three-man contest for the individual title. Tom McKibbin of Legion XIII is in solo fourth at 7 under, while Fireballs GC Captain Sergio Garcia is in fifth at 6 under. The top 10 includes players from 11 of the 13 teams in the league.
Team standings and season-long race
In the team competition, Torque GC, led by Niemann, maintained its lead despite a cumulative 8 over total on Saturday. They are two shots ahead of Jon Rahm’s Legion XIII. Majesticks GC is in solo third, six shots off the pace. The individual leaderboard shows Niemann at 14 under, Varner at 12 under, and Westwood at 10 under. Other players in the top 10 include Byeong Hun An, Thomas Pieters, and Richard Bland, all tied for sixth at 5 under.
Jon Rahm, captain of Legion XIII and a two-time defending LIV Golf Individual Champion, is on track to secure his third consecutive season-long title at Bedminster. Rahm is currently tied for 32nd place at 3 over for the tournament after a third-round 73. His projected total points after this week are 946.74. The only player who could potentially catch him is Crushers GC Captain Bryson DeChambeau, who is in 41st place at 7 over after a third-round 70. DeChambeau is projected to have 725.80 points and needs to be within 200 points of Rahm after Sunday’s round to remain in contention for the regular-season finale at LIV Golf Indianapolis. An individual tournament win is worth 200 points.
PIF funding and future outlook
The LIV Golf event at Trump National Bedminster saw the presence of President Donald Trump and PIF Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan. They were observed together before the final round on Sunday. Al-Rumayyan, who was previously chairman of the board for LIV Golf, was seen in the player dining room with Trump and Gary Player. Trump has frequently attended LIV Golf tournaments held at his properties.
The PIF had previously withdrawn future funding from LIV Golf in April. A statement from the PIF indicated that the substantial investment required by LIV Golf was no longer consistent with their investment strategy and current macro dynamics. Since then, LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil has been seeking new funding sources to ensure the league continues until 2027. O’Neil stated on Wednesday that a new lead investor had been identified, though no specific details were provided.
Reports from Bloomberg suggested that BC Partners Credit was considering a loan, while the Financial Times indicated that the PIF might pay off remaining player contracts to address potential liabilities. Ted Goldthorpe, head of BC Partners Credit, was also present at Trump Bedminster. There is speculation that multiple players, including Jon Rahm, could be persuaded to remain with LIV Golf and receive equity in a potential “LIV 2.0.” The presence of Al-Rumayyan at the event has not been publicly commented on by a LIV Golf spokesperson.
The broader economic context includes the impact of the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran on the Saudi Arabian economy, which has affected oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, Joaquin Niemann is projected to move into third place in total points with a win at LIV Golf New York, though he would not accumulate enough points to overtake Jon Rahm in the season-long individual championship race.
Source: nytimes.com
Mason Reed
Sports reporter covering football, basketball and international competitions.