By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Torque GC Captain and Chile’s Joaquin Niemann secured his eighth career victory coming in South Korea Sunday courtesy of a clutch approach shot in a playoff.
Niemann defeated Talor Gooch in extra holes after a sublime gap wedge from 149 yards to close range allowed him to drain a birdie putt and claim the title. Two-time U.S. Open winner Bryson DeChambeau finished third after cooling off from an initially hot final-day charge.
“It was fun out there,” said the 27-year-old Niemann, the League’s youngest captain. “I really enjoy the feeling of winning again.”
Niemann and Gooch, who shared the 54-hole lead, each finished at 12 under in regulation as they dueled all day at Asiad Country Club. Niemann had four birdies in a five-hole stretch on his front nine to take the lead, but Gooch made a 28-foot birdie putt on the 16th hole to tie for the lead during their tense back-nine battle.
Said a disappointed Gooch, who was seeking his fifth LIV Golf individual title: “It’s frustrating when you have a chance to win. That doesn’t come too often in this game, so you want to capitalize on it.”
Crushers GC successfully defended their LIV Golf Korea 2025 title won on a different course last year in Incheon, shooting a collective 23 under to beat OKGC by three shots. With their second win of this season, the Crushers now have 10 regular-season victories, breaking a tie with Legion XIII and 4Aces GC for most by any team.
“Just grateful, super grateful that I’ve got amazing guys, an amazing team, “said DeChambeau, who finished solo third individually at 11 under, one shot out of a playoff. “We all click in different ways, but we all work to make our team the best out here.”
Those 10 wins have come in 50 regular-season starts since the core group of DeChambeau, Charles Howell III, Anirban Lahiri and Paul Casey were established.
Sunday’s win, however, was the first with a lineup adjustment, as reserve player Travis Smyth filled in for the injured Casey.
Smyth was critical for the team’s success, finishing in a four-way tie for eighth that also included Howell. The Australian becomes just the second reserve player to celebrate any kind of LIV Golf trophy.
“It’s just been a whirlwind of a week,” Smyth said. … I didn’t want to be the fill-in guy that disappoints the team and stops them from standing on the podium. I’m over the moon. I’m super-proud of myself, super-proud of these guys, and couldn’t have asked for a better first week.” DeChambeau was the team’s highest finisher, solo third at 11 under.