Joaquin Niemann made an impressive start to the LIV Golf season, becoming the second player in as many years to achieve a sub-60 round. Closing with two pars, Niemann finished with a 12-under 59, taking a commanding 5-shot lead as the Saudi-funded league kicked off its third season at LIV Golf Mayakoba.
Despite having an opportunity to match the LIV record with one more birdie, Niemann’s final wedge shot on the shotgun start’s last hole fell about 10 feet short of the green. Nonetheless, he secured his first 59 in competition with two putts. Last year, Bryson DeChambeau shot 58 to claim victory at Greenbrier.
Niemann currently leads by 5 shots over Patrick Reed, showcasing a stellar performance that saw him unaware of the extent of his under-par score until the shouts of 58 reached him on his final hole. El Camaleon, playing to a par 71, provided the stage for Niemann’s remarkable feat.
This marks the 52nd round in the 50s in professional golf worldwide, with only 12 such rounds in PGA Tour history, the lowest being Jim Furyk’s 58 in the 2016 Travelers Championship. The debut of LIV’s notable acquisition, Masters champion Jon Rahm, took a backseat as he opened with a solid 66, leaving him 7 shots behind Niemann with two rounds to go.
Niemann’s extraordinary 59 overshadowed the start of the third LIV Golf season, which includes 13 teams and two wild cards. The league’s format adjustments now allow threesomes to begin on each hole, with the top three scores from each team counting for the team competition, and all four scores counting on the final day.
