BEDMINSTER, N.J. — Joaquin Niemann’s dominant week at LIV Golf New York ended with another trophy, a presidential meeting — and one of the more unusual finishing-hole scenes professional golf has seen.
After completing a wire-to-wire victory Sunday at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster, the 27-year-old Chilean met with President Donald Trump, adding another memorable moment to a week in which Niemann further established himself as the most prolific winner in LIV Golf history.
“Yeah, it was really special to have Mr. President come in and see us,” Niemann said afterward. “He loves golf. He definitely loves it. He loved us as well.”
Trump had been a highly visible presence throughout the weekend at his Bedminster property, riding the course in a golf cart, interacting with players and acknowledging supporters. But his departure Sunday produced perhaps the tournament’s most surreal scene.
Niemann, Harold Varner III and Lee Westwood were playing the 18th hole in the tournament’s final group when play was temporarily halted as the presidential helicopter arrived near the course.
The trio had already played their tee shots on Bedminster’s 662-yard par-5 finishing hole and were preparing for their approaches when they were forced to wait in the 18th fairway. The helicopter descended behind LIV Golf signage adjacent to the course as spectators and tournament personnel watched. The interruption lasted several minutes before play resumed.
It made for a striking scene: the LIV Golf leader standing in the 18th fairway, one hole from securing another championship, while the President of the United States’ helicopter landed nearby to take him back to Washington.
Niemann eventually finished the job, closing with a 69 to reach 16-under and defeat Varner by three shots for his ninth career LIV Golf individual title.
Then came another presidential moment.
Following the victory, Niemann and his wife, Christina, had the opportunity to spend time with Trump before he departed. Niemann was particularly complimentary of both the President and the way the Trump family has treated LIV Golf’s players and personnel during the league’s tournaments at Trump-owned properties.
“It’s very nice the way that the whole family treats us, the players, the pros, the team,” Niemann said.
He praised virtually every aspect of the experience at Trump properties — from the golf courses and facilities to the hospitality — before summing it up simply: “Everything is amazing.”
For Niemann, Trump’s decision to spend much of the weekend around LIV Golf was meaningful considering the demands of the presidency.
“It just shows how much it matters for him to be out here, especially how busy he is,” Niemann said. “Just for me, there’s a lot of appreciation for him just having his presence here.”
Trump’s attendance added another layer to an already notable week at Bedminster.
The President was joined during the weekend by Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan and golf legend Gary Player, among other high-profile guests, as LIV Golf staged one of its most prominent U.S. events of the season.
But inside the ropes, the weekend belonged to Niemann.
The Torque GC captain entered Sunday with a commanding advantage before Varner applied pressure during the final round. Niemann answered, including a critical eagle at the par-5 15th, and eventually restored enough separation to make his trip up the 18th relatively comfortable — even if getting to the green required an unexpected presidential delay.
The victory was Niemann’s second of the 2026 season and ninth LIV Golf title overall, extending his record for the most individual victories in league history.
“I feel like the more they push me, the better golfer I’m going to become,” Niemann said of responding to Varner’s challenge. “To be able to hit the shots that I did and make the putts that I did coming down the stretch, I put credit on myself.”
It was an unusual ending even by LIV Golf standards.
