LIV Golf Mayakoba: Joaquin Niemann opens new season with ‘amazing’ 59 in Mexico, Rahm leads Legion XIII on debut
- Chilean captain of Torque GC hits course record 12 under at El Camaleon Golf Course
- Jon Rahm starts LIV career with a five-under 66 to sit in tie for fourth with Englishmen Laurie Canter and Richard Bland
Joaquin Niemann opened his 2024 season on Friday with the round of every golfer’s dreams.
The Chilean captain of Torque GC fired a 12-under-par 59 on the first day of LIV Golf Mayakoba, in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.
The sparkling performance put Niemann five shots clear of the field. Patrick Reed of 4 Aces is second after a bogey-free 64, and Fireballs GC captain Sergio Garcia opened with a six-under 65 to take third place.
Niemann began his round on the second hole at El Camaleon Golf Course and quickly went on a birdie spree, making five straight the third hole. At the par-4 11th, his second shot took one hop on the green and dunked into the hole for an eagle that took him to nine under.
Another three birdies got him to 12 under with two holes to spare, and his par-par finish secured the course record and the second sub-60 round in LIV’s three-year history; Bryson DeChambeau shot a final-round 58 to win at Greenbrier last season.
“It was obviously an amazing round,” Niemann said. “It was good to hit good tee shots on the last couple holes where they’re kind of tricky, especially 16, 18, and No. 1. I gave myself a few chances also the last couple holes to go even lower, but yeah, still really, really happy.”
