Joaquin Niemann Produces Riviera Masterclass

JOAQUIN NIEMANN survived a few nervous moments at Riviera as he shot a 71 to become the first wire-to-wire winner of The Genesis Invitational since Charlie Sifford 53 years ago.

Starting with a three-shot lead, Niemann's margin was down to one when he made a seven-foot birdie on the eighth hole and Cameron Young cleared the green with his approach and made bogey.

The 23-year-old from Chile chipped in for eagle on the par-five 11th to stretch his lead to five, and he held on for a two-shot victory over Open champion Collin Morikawa (65) and Young, whose hopes ended with a bogey from the bunker on the 16th. Young shot 70.

With two bogeys on the back nine, Niemann finished at 19-under 265, one short of the score Lanny Wadkins had in 1985.

Morikawa holed an eagle chip on the infamous and reachable 10th hole that one-hopped into the cup, and two late birdies gave him a chance. But he missed a 10-footer on the 18th in his bid to win and reach No. 1 in the world.

Young, making only his 12th career PGA Tour start, was a runner-up for the second time this season. He also tied for second in Mississippi. But he had the considerable consolation of pocketing a cheque for $1,068,000 for his tie for second. 

Niemann collected $2.16 million for what was his second PGA Tour victory.

No one else had much of a chance on a cool, breezy afternoon at Riviera. This was Niemann's tournament from the start, when he opened with a pair of 63s.

Sifford in 1969 was the last player to go wire-to-wire in this tournament. Niemann’s win was especially significant because every member of the world’s top 10 was in the field.

Niemann carved his way around Riviera in superb fashion. The most important birdie was at No. 8 and he all but secured the title by chipping in for eagle at the 11th.

Young stayed in contention, even after a bogey at the 10th when his approach found a bunker. He blasted out to four feet but missed the par putt, slamming his bag with a putter as he left the green.

He still had a chance. Young drove into a bunker on the 15th, could only get out to the fairway and then holed out for birdie from 50 yards. Niemann missed a four-foot par putt and took his second straight bogey, and the lead was down to two with three holes to play.

Young found a bunker for the second straight day on the par-3 16th. It wasn't plugged like it was on Saturday, but he failed to get up-and-down. He birdied the par-5 17th to get back within two shots and needed some help. 

Niemann split the fairway, hitting to the back level of the green and two-putting for par from just inside 30 feet.

CHAMPIONS TOUR

ALREADY the oldest winner in PGA Tour Champions history, Bernhard Langer completed a wire-to-wire victory for his record fourth Chubb Classic title.

Langer won at the age of 64 years, 5 months, 23 days to push his victory total to 43 on the PGA Tour Champions, two behind Hale Irwin for the record, and win for the 16th straight season. The German star became the oldest Champions Tour winner in October at the Dominion Energy Charity Classic in Virginia.

Langer closed with his second straight 4-under 68, birdieing the par-5 18th on Tiburon Golf Club’s Black Course for the third day in a row, to finish at 16-under 200. He beat Tim Petrovic by three strokes after taking a two-stroke lead into the final round.

Langer opened Thursday by shooting his age with a 64. In the final round, the two-time Masters champion had six birdies  going - four for four on the par 5s - and two bogeys.

Langer also won the event - in its 35th season, the longest-running PGA Tour Champions tournament in the same city - in 2011 at The Quarry and 2013 and 2016 at TwinEagles. The six-time Charles Schwab Cup season points champions also won wire-to-wire in 2013 and 2016. Irwin won the event three times.

Petrovic finished with a 69. Retief Goosen was third at 12 under after a 70.

Brian Gay closed with a 69 to finish fourth at 10 under in his senior debut. Gay turned 50 on Dec. 14. He won the Bermuda Championship on the PGA Tour in the fall of 2020.

Y.E. Yang, also making his debut, tied for 12th at 6 under after a 73.