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Niemann finally wins the Chile Open as LIV future hangs open
Joaquin Niemann won the 96th Abierto de Chile by four shots in Santiago, the one big title missing from his home record, while he is still to commit to LIV Golf's planned relaunch.
Joaquin Niemann has finally won his national open. The LIV Golf player closed with a 67 at Club de Golf Las Brisas de Chicureo, on the edge of Santiago, to win the 96th Abierto de Chile on Sunday by four shots.
He finished on 15 under par (64-73-69-67, a total of 273), four clear of Chile’s Gabriel Morgan. Juan Monckeberg, Simón Roessler and Ecuador’s Felipe Garcés shared third on 10 under.
Niemann led Garcés by one going into the final round, and Garcés birdied the 1st to draw level, according to La Tercera. Niemann went straight back in front with a birdie at the 3rd, dropped a shot at the 4th and birdied the 5th. Morgan’s birdie at the 15th cut the gap to one, but he bogeyed the 16th, and Niemann birdied the 17th and 18th. Golf Monthly counts it as his 23rd professional win, nine of them on LIV.
The purse was $60,000. Niemann had finished third in his national open in 2019 but never won it. He told La Tercera it would always be fun to have a place in the tournament’s history.
Niemann, captain of Torque GC, has not yet committed to LIV Golf 2.0, the player-owned league LIV hopes to launch from its Chapter 11 restructuring. Players have until 13 October to sign up, and Golf Channel reported on Sunday that LIV already has enough support to clear its threshold (see our LIV report). Away from LIV this year he finished runner-up at the Amgen Irish Open on the DP World Tour, according to Golf Monthly. Journalist Alan Shipnuck has said he believes Niemann is likely to leave LIV, though neither Niemann nor the league has said anything to confirm that.
Sources
- Golf Monthly: Joaquin Niemann claims home open title for the first time at Abierto de Chile
- La Tercera: Joaquín Niemann conquista el Abierto de Chile por primera vez
- Cooperativa: Joaquín Niemann conquistó por primera vez el Abierto de Chile
- Golfmagic: Report: LIV Golf secure enough player support for 2027 plans
- Yahoo Sports/HITC: Bryson DeChambeau undecided over his future with LIV Golf
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