Joaquin Niemann with Tiger Woods, host of Genesis Invitational; Niemann with fans. Pic: Getty Images
LOS ANGELES, Feb 20: Joaquinn Niemann survived a few nervous moments at Riviera and rounded off a big week when he closed with an even-par 71 to become a wire-to-wire winner of The Genesis Invitational.
Starting with a three-shot lead, Niemann’s margin was down to one when he made a 7-foot birdie on the eighth hole and PGA TOUR rookie Cameron Young overshot the green and made bogey.
The 23-year-old from Chile chipped in for eagle on the par-5 11th to stretch his lead to five, and he held on for a two-shot victory over Open champion Collin Morikawa (65) and Young, whose last hopes ended with a bogey from the bunker on the 16th. Young shot 70.
India’s Anirban Lahiri had missed the cut.
Niemann missed breaking the longest active tournament scoring record on the PGA TOUR. With two bogeys on the back nine, Niemann finished at 19-under 265, one short of the score Lanny Watkins had in 1985.
Morikawa holed an eagle chip on the infamous and reachable 10th hole that one-hopped into the cup, and two late birdies gave him a chance. But he missed a 10-footer on the 18th in his bid to win and reach No. 1 in the world.
Young, making only his 12th career TOUR start, was a runner-up for the second time this season. He also tied for second in Mississippi. Given the prestige of the tournament hosted by Tiger Woods, Young earned $1,068,000 for his tie for second. The purse was $12 million.
Not since Phil Rodgers in 1962 has the Riviera had a 23-year-old winner. Niemann picked up $2.16 million for his second PGA TOUR victory.
Niemann opened with a pair of 63s and set or matched a tournament scoring record of some variety each day but the last one.
Charlie Sifford in 1969 was the last player to go wire-to-wire in The Genesis Invitational.
Niemann’s celebration was on with his closest friends — Sergio Garcia of Spain, Mito Pereira of Chile and Carlos Ortiz of Mexico — formed a big group hug on the 18th.
