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Niemann’s Beautiful Play-Off Victory Seals PIF Saudi Worldwide and Worldwide Sequence Rankings
Sunday, December 8, 2024
Chile’s Joaquín Niemann capped off what may very well be the best season of his profession by successful the US$5 million PIF Saudi Worldwide powered by SoftBank Funding Advisers, securing a dramatic play-off victory over Cam Smith and Caleb Surratt.
“I enjoy being in that position, but there’s times sometimes that it takes a little bit longer. It was a good day. Caleb and me, we played great,” stated Niemann, who performs on the LIV Golf League for Torque GC.
“Never thought we were going to be in a play-off with Cam Smith. He was early. An hour before us when he was done. I thought we were going to stay away from the 21-under, but you never know in golf.”
Niemann sealed the win with a shocking birdie on the second play-off gap at Riyadh Golf Membership, hitting a near-perfect lob shot to inside a foot of the pin. Smith and Surratt each missed their birdie makes an attempt from shut vary, handing Niemann the triumph. The victory earned him US$1 million in prize cash and in addition noticed him declare The Worldwide Sequence Rankings title after a fiercely contested end.
The trio had all birdied the primary play-off gap, a par-4 18th, after Niemann and Surratt had each bogeyed the ultimate gap in regulation play, bringing them again to a tie with Smith at 21 below par.
Niemann, who led by one shot going into the ultimate day, closed with a four-under-par 67. Surratt posted a 66, whereas Smith, enjoying in one of many later teams, surged into competition with a outstanding 62.
He added: “Yeah, it’s a really good way to wrap up the season. I’m really excited for what’s coming next season on LIV and hopefully get into a few Majors.”
The thrilling finale marked the shut of the season-ending occasion on the Asian Tour and The Worldwide Sequence, the richest match of the season. Niemann’s victory got here after a powerful begin, with birdies on the primary three holes, however a bogey on the 14th and bother off the tee on 18 put the stress on. He recovered from the timber on 18 to arrange a five-foot putt for the win, however missed it, leaving the door open for Smith, who made birdie on the outlet. Surratt’s ultimate gap bogey, after pushing his tee shot into the water, handed Niemann the sting.
Stated Smith: “I feel it was a bonus to even get in there, to be truthful, sitting down for an hour and a bit. It was high quality. I did what I needed to do. Clearly, a disgrace to overlook the putt there, however it’s what it’s.
“I was thinking my percentage of having a top five was very slim. Yeah, it’s a weird game sometimes. It’s kind of lucky that there wasn’t any beers in the clubhouse because I would have had a few, I think. It’s a weird game sometimes, and you never really know what’s going to happen.”
The win additionally secured Niemann’s second victory in Saudi Arabia this season, following his LIV Golf Jeddah triumph in March, shortly after successful LIV Golf Mayakoba.
At simply 20 years previous, Surratt was aiming for his first skilled win. His bogey on 18th was his solely dropped shot of the spherical, and yet one more slim miss after a joint-third place end in Morocco and second in England in earlier Worldwide Sequence occasions.
“Yeah, it’s a tough pill to swallow,” stated the American, who performs for Legion XIII on the LIV Golf League.
“I’ve been actually shut just a few occasions this 12 months in The Worldwide Sequence, and I actually fought exhausting this week as a result of I didn’t get off to an amazing begin.
“I did all I could do. I hit six perfect golf shots in the playoff, and I didn’t really find my way this time, and hopefully one day it does.”
Peter Uihlein (USA) and Ben Campbell (New Zealand) completed second and third, respectively, in The Worldwide Sequence Rankings. Campbell, who closed with a 64, fell only one shot wanting the play-off and the chance to hitch subsequent 12 months’s LIV Golf League.
Englishman Tyrrell Hatton, with a 67, completed in fifth place, one shot behind Campbell.
