Joaquín Niemann could build an unassailable lead at the top of the LIV Golf League if he can secure his fifth win of the 2025 season at LIV Golf UK by JCB.
Niemann left the field in his wake on Saturday at JCB Golf and Country Club firing a sizzling round of 63 to take a six shot lead into the final round on fourteen-under.
A win would see him extend his lead at the top of the season long standings and leave Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau potentially needing to win back to back events to catch him before the end of the campaign – if Niemann doesn’t wrap up the championship in Chicago next month.
“I feel like all I’m thinking about right now is what I’m doing right now, having a great time out on the golf course right now. I’ve been playing great. I’ve been hitting my shots. I’ve been hitting my lines on the putter. They’ve been going in.
“All I’m worried about is that, and I’m going to keep being worried about that, and I think everything else is just going to take care of it.”
The Chilean roared out of the traps with thee successive birdies before pulling clear of the field with birdies on the fifth and seventh.
He continued his charge with back to back birdies on 10 and 11. At this stage nothing could go wrong and he demonstrated his confidence with a sensational up and down from off the back of the par-5 13th for another birdie.
His first bogey of the week came on 15 but he slammed the door shut in the face of his challengers with a closing birdie.
A far cry from the form which saw him miss the cut at the Open Championship last week.
Looking to launch a charge to capitalise on any Niemann stumble is Bubba Watson who fired a round of 68 for an eight-under total.
The two-time Masters champion is enjoying a good stretch of form with two top-7 finishes this season and he credits a caddie and putter change.
“I’m making the putts. Obviously caddie change. Listening to him on the greens, working with him on my putting, it’s been fun. It’s energized me. I feel like a young kid out here learning the game all over again.
“It’s exciting, and I’ve been calm, working on the mental side of it, and I’ve been calm out there on the golf course, and it’s paying off.”
Tucked in behind Bubba in a share of third place is Paul Casey, Caleb Surratt and Adrian Meronk on seven-under with Tom McKibbin a shot further back in sixth after back to back rounds of 68.
A maiden individual victory may be beyond McKibbin’s reach tomorrow but the 22-year-old still has an opportunity to lift more silverware with Legion XIII.
Legion are three shots behind Niemann’s Torque GC on 21-under-par heading into the final day.
McKibbin enjoyed another solid day on the course, teeing off from the sixth and birdieing the 8th.
A frustrating run of nine successive pars was broke by two birdies in three holes as the Holywood man signed for a bogey free effort.
Graeme McDowell’s struggles this week continued with a three-over 74 for a four-over total.
Scoring HERE
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