“It was a crazy week’ - Joaquin Niemann wins LIV Golf UK in Staffordshire after splitting with caddie and coach
Joaquin Niemann summed up winning LIV Golf UK in Staffordshire as “pretty crazy” after axing his caddie and coach ahead of the tournament.
The Chilean carded a three-under-par final round of 68 at the JCB Golf and Country Club near Uttoxeter on Sunday to finish 17-under and claim the title. It came after Niemann made the bold decision to fire both his caddie, Gary Matthews, and his coach on the eve of the tournament.
The 26-year-old held a commanding six-shot lead into the final round of the three-day event after shooting an impressive eight-under-par round of 63 on Saturday.
But, two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson gave Niemann a challenge, going eight-under-par through six holes on his way to a final round of 65, which Niemann said added some pressure.
“Today I was pretty calm, pretty chill, until Bubba started playing golf,” Niemann said. “He made it tough me for, I was feeling the pressure.
“It was a pretty crazy week. There was a lot of different emotions, especially after today. But, going back to the first day, it was the first time working with my new caddie Diego (Salinas), and to be honest I was feeling nervous about how everything was going to work.
“I was pretty nervous at the beginning, but it worked out pretty well in the first two days, the scores were there which is always nice to see.
”I was feeling nervous during the night and waking up, having a big lead, sometimes I have moments where I think about messing up.
”I was trying to stay positive and calm myself in the morning. But, I really enjoyed being in the UK and everything that I did.”
Niemann’s win at the course near Uttoxeter was his fifth of the LIV Golf season, and earned the Chilean £4 million in prize money.
Legion XIII claimed the team title for the second year running at JCB, with Jon Rahm, Tyrell Hatton, Caleb Surratt and Tom McKibbin taking home a share of £3 million.
Surratt finished tied-third individually on 13-under-par while last year’s individual champion Rahm finished 10-under. Home crowd favourite Tyrrell Hatton finished five-under while McKibbin was two shots better.
England’s Lee Westwood finished tied-37th on one-under with his wife Sarah on the bag, while fellow Ryder Cup veteran Ian Poulter finished one-over-par, alongside Phil Mickelson.
Meanwhile, Staffordshire’s own Richard Bland finished tied-29th on three-under.
