Joaquin Niemann solidified his status as the LIV Golf League’s dominant force, storming to a thrilling victory at LIV Golf Virginia on Sunday, June 8, 2025, at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club.
The 26-year-old Chilean star carded a bogey-free, 8-under-par 63 in the final round to finish at 15-under 198, edging out Graeme McDowell and Anirban Lahiri by a single stroke. The win marked Niemann’s fourth individual title of the 2025 season and his sixth overall in LIV Golf history, making him the league’s winningest player.
Niemann’s path to victory was anything but straightforward. The final round was marred by two weather delays totaling nearly three hours, testing the patience and focus of the field.
Trailing by four shots at the start of the day, Niemann remained steady, opening with four birdies on the front nine to close the gap. After the second rain delay, he unleashed a blistering charge, reeling off four consecutive birdies from holes 14 to 17 to seize the lead. A composed par on the par-4 18th sealed the $4 million prize from the $20 million purse.
“Pretty cool to be in this place, in this position right now,” Niemann said after his triumph. “I’m pretty thankful.”
Niemann’s performance drew inspiration from an unlikely source: Spanish tennis star Carlos Alcaraz’s comeback victory at the French Open, which Niemann watched during the rain delay.
“I got some inspiration from Carlos Alcaraz,” he noted, citing the tennis star’s resilience in rallying from two sets down.
The leaderboard was packed with talent, as several LIV Golf heavyweights vied for the title. Graeme McDowell, who led before the second weather delay, posted a 66 to finish at 14-under, tying for second with Anirban Lahiri (68).
McDowell’s runner-up finish was his best in LIV Golf, while Lahiri notched his sixth career runner-up result in the league.
Bryson DeChambeau, Phil Mickelson, Thomas Pieters, and Bubba Watson tied for fourth at 13-under, each delivering standout moments.
Mickelson, 54, thrilled fans with a jaw-dropping 120-degree backward chip from heavy rough for a hole-out birdie, dubbed “vintage Phil” by DeChambeau.
Pieters fired a 63, highlighted by a 62.5-foot birdie putt, while DeChambeau chipped in for birdie on the 16th for the second time in the tournament.
In the team competition, DeChambeau’s Crushers GC claimed their second consecutive victory, finishing at 36-under with a final-round score of 15-under. The 4Aces GC (34-under) and Smash GC (31-under) rounded out the podium, while Niemann’s Torque GC placed fourth at 25-under.
Niemann’s victory capped a remarkable season that includes earlier wins in Adelaide, Singapore, and Mexico City, following triumphs in Mayakoba and Jeddah in 2024. His six LIV Golf titles surpass Brooks Koepka’s five, cementing his place in the league’s record books. Critics and peers alike praised his form, with McDowell calling him a “top-10 player in the world, arguably top five.”
The event also served as a prelude to the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont, where 14 LIV Golf players, including Niemann, DeChambeau, and Jon Rahm, will compete. Niemann, who finished T-8 at the recent PGA Championship, expressed confidence heading into the major, viewing it as “just another golf tournament” despite never having played Oakmont.
As Niemann continues to rewrite LIV Golf’s record books, his Virginia triumph underscored his relentless drive and clutch performance under pressure. With the golf world buzzing, all eyes now turn to Oakmont, where Niemann aims to carry his red-hot form into the major spotlight.
