Niemann Goes From Bar To Green, To Play-Off, To Eagle Winning Australian Open Triumph

2 years ago by Comments Off on Niemann Goes From Bar To Green, To Play-Off, To Eagle Winning Australian Open Triumph

You could have srcipted a more amazing victory that Chilean Joaquin Niemann produced to capture the 106th hosting of the ISPS Handa Australian Open in Sydney.

Niemann, 25, defeated Japan’s Rikuya Hoshino at the second play-off hole after Hoshimo birdied the last in regulation play to tie his LIV Golf player at 14-under, and with Niemann posting a closing 66 and Hoshino a 70.

Chilean Joaquin Niemann holds the famed Stonehaven Trophy in capturing the ISPS Handa Australian Open.

Niemann, who headed into the last day four shots off the lead,  was five-under ahead of a bogey at 17 and then things looked to go from bad to worst went he leaked his second, at the par-5 18th, well right over water guarding the green and into a hospitality tent. There was then the sight of the Chilean making his way into the tent in search of his golf ball.

The ball had actually ended-up behind the tent and somehow Niemann was able to hit it over the water and onto the heart of the green, putting himself in a position to putt for an unlikely eagle and two-shot then clubhouse lead.

Niemann came up short and had to settle for a birdie ‘4’.

Niemann then looked to be in prime position to take the title at the first hole of the play-off, with the advantage immediately as Hoshino sent his tee shot left and into the bunker but also playing a great third shot to walk off with both recording birdies.

It was back to 18th for a third time in the day and with Niemann securing a 10th career victory with probably the shot of his five-year pro career.

“It was a nice day. These last two playoff holes showed how I have been playing the last few weeks here in Australia,” said Niemann who arrived in Sydney having set a new Royal Queensland course record of 62 a week earlier in the Australian PGA in Brisbane.

“My putting hasn’t been the best, but I’ve been working hard on it and it was nice to make that last putt. I always practise those three-, four-, five-feet ones and know that one of those will be to win a tournament. It’s amazing.”

Big disappointment for two Aussies in Min Woo Lee and former Aussie Open winnner Adam Scott.

Lee headed into the final round tied with Hoshino but produced a disappointing last round level par 72 to finish third at 12-under and two shots outside of the play-off. Lee had been looking to become the first player since 2011 to capture the Aussie double in winning both the PGA Championship and the Australian Open.

Scott teed-up actually five back at the start of found four but cut a swath through the field thanks three birdies in his opening five holes before disaster in taking a horror triple bogey 7 at the seventh hole.

The Masters champion bounced back and moving to a share of the lead with a long birdie at the 11th ahead of a roller-coaster last six holes – bogey, three birdies, bogey and a 72nd hole birdie.

If there was one consulation for Scott is that his share of fourth secured him a place into the 2024 Open at Royal Troon.

“Yeah, it’s too hard to know exactly what to make of my round”, he said.  “Obviously it doesn’t look very good, but bad swing on one of the hardest holes and it’s cost me a chance.

“What did I have, about a 5 per cent chance teeing off today? So it’s hard to be really upset at myself. I did a lot of good stuff to even make it interesting for myself, so that was fun, looking on the positive note”,

However spare of a thought for Hoshino as his play-off loss was a second place finish in as many tournaments however he does have the excitement of starting the New Year as a member of the PGA Tour.

 



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