Joaquín Niemann (-13), the avenger. The Chilean grabbed his rifle and won again in LIV Golf. He won again in Australia. Matador. A round of 65 strokes on the final day to lift the trophy with a three-shot lead over Abraham Ancer (-10) and Carlos Ortiz (-10). Spain adds two new top 10s. Another great performance by David Puig (-9), who finished fourth with a strong finish, and sixth place for Jon Rahm (-7), who ended with a bitter bogey.
Niemann took the victory in the bustling Adelaide tournament, defeating Abraham Ancer in a head-to-head. He surpassed him in the final stretch. The Mexican led for much of the last 18 holes after a spectacular start with two birdies. He had a four-shot lead. However, when it mattered most, Joaco was more decisive. The tournament turned around in the last holes in the most unexpected way, with Ancer’s long game, where he usually excels, faltering.
The Mexican missed the tee shot to the left on the 17th and was left without a shot to the green. He had to play short to the fairway and couldn’t make the approach and putt. Bogey. Almost simultaneously, Niemann executed a wonderful bunker shot on the 18th green to leave the birdie almost done. Suddenly, they went from being tied at the top of the leaderboard to the Chilean being two ahead. It was the coup de grâce. Ancer was already forced to make an eagle on the 18th, something that with his hitting was almost impossible. In fact, it was even worse; he finished with a bogey, with a missed second shot and a short putt, and couldn’t even be second alone. He finished tied with Carlos Ortiz, who managed to salvage the final part of an erratic start that left him out of the winning equation early on.
Niemann has closed the tournament and the victory in Australia with a masterful final round. He made seven birdies without error. His driver was excellent again in the decisive moments, and he was aggressive when needed on the shots to the green. However, if one had to determine the main reason for his victory, it would be his short game. It is Niemann’s third win in LIV Golf, after the two he achieved last year in Mayakoba and Saudi Arabia. Once again, he starts the season strong. It is also his second victory in the antipodes, after the one achieved at the end of 2023 in the Open de Australia, a DP World Tour tournament. It is a country that propels Niemann.
David Puig’s second-best result ever in LIV Golf
David Puig keeps going. Indomitable. Unyielding. It’s his fourth consecutive week competing, and he has finished with four top 10s. He ended his round in style, with two birdies on holes 18 and 1, redeeming himself from yesterday’s finish with two bogeys. He is an extraordinary competitor who keeps growing. It’s his fourth top 10 in LIV, the second consecutive, and his second-best result after third place in Houston last year. He started his round with a bogey and never really had a real chance to win the tournament, but he fought until the end to achieve the best possible result. Anyone wanting the US Open and Open spots that LIV offers this year will have to contend with Puig.
Rahm doesn’t drop out of the top 10
Jon Rahm, doing his thing. He continues with that incredible statistic of always finishing in the top 10. He finished in Australia with a card of 70 strokes, with five birdies and three bogeys. Like Puig, he never really got into contention for victory. He was always in the background, waiting to deliver the final blow, but it never came. He marked a great stretch of five under in twelve holes (from 4 to 15), but he was already too far behind, and both Niemann and Ancer gave no chances. He ends in sixth place. A notable start to 2025 in LIV, without a win, but a second and a sixth place.
Sergio García (-4) knew how to fight hard in the final round to finish inside the top 20. The man from Borriol knows that every point counts this year in those goals of playing the Majors. He wants to be in that fight and won’t let any week go by. He values those weeks like never before. Meanwhile, Luis Masaveu (+2) closed the tournament again, as he did last week in Saudi, with his best round, 71 strokes, 37th place. He continues to gain experience. Additionally, he can now boast of having his first team victory. The very good performances of Ancer and Puig, along with Sergio’s final push, gave the victory to the Fireballs. It is their first victory of 2025 and the fourth in their history in LIV Golf.
