An eagle on “best short hole in golf” sparks Niemann

PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. — The platform is small and subtle, the opposite of what we too often misconceive as Southern California chic. But the 10th hole at Riviera — merely called by Rory McIlroy the best short hole in golf — can be as difficult as it is beckoning.

It plays to around 310 yards, which is nothing in these days of hulked-up golfers and high-powered golf clubs, designed back in the 1920s by George Thomas, an ageless gem that creates a question in the player’s mind: Do I lay up or take a chance?

The stories are legendary. Some guys have ruined their chances by taking a chance. A few years ago in a playoff, Phil Mickelson (this was before he became an object of scorn) went with his driver and went for a birdie.

On Saturday, Joaquin Niemann, well aware of his own position — first place — in the Genesis Invitational as well as the risk-reward quality of the 10th hole, played it smartly and safely just short of the green and made a 22-footer for an eagle two.

“I felt the crowd there,” said Niemann. “There was a lot of crowd. It was a big putt there. It was good because I was coming out of a few birdies, so it was great to make that eagle.”

Niemann, the 23-year-old from Chile, shot a 3-under-par 68, his worst score by far of the three rounds — he had back-to-back 63s, but with a 54-hole total of 19-under 194 still expanded his lead. Second-place Cameron Young had a 69 for 197, while Viktor Hodland, with the day’s low, a 65, is at 200. Justin Thomas (70) is at 201 and Collin Morikawa (68) 202.

The way he is scoring and enthusiastically reacting to the support of the gallery, fans still wound up by the Rams in the Super Bowl, Niemann would seem destined to be the wire-to-wire winner, But as we’ve learned so many times, golf can be an ornery game. You can’t protect a lead. And you can’t keep someone else from building one.

As Niemann, despite his youth, knows quite well. He has gone about the task at hand, with a smile or two but showing little other excitement, which brought about an inane question of whether he was enjoying himself.

“Yeah, I'm having the best time of my life right now,” he said. “I just try to keep it calm, but yeah, I'm enjoying it a lot and I just can't wait to have a good day (Sunday).”

There haven’t been a lot of good days in the media for Mickelson, since the story broke that he is working with the abusive (some would say treacherous) Saudi group to finance golf competition that would compete with the PGA Tour. Phil, who won at Riviera, isn’t entered in the Genesis this time, but his presence can’t be denied.

Niemann, naturally, was hit with a reference to Phil, a journalist wondering if Joaquin “had been involved in talks at all with the Saudi league.” His answer was direct if not specific

“Yeah. I mean, obviously a lot going on,” he said. “I don't know much about it and I don't want to say anything about it. I just wait.” 

Golf is a game of waiting — and then performing.

Niemann plays his way into Riviera history

PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. — The place is known as Hogan’s Alley. There’s even a statue of Ben alongside the practice green. Howard Hughes was a member. So was Humphrey Bogart.

Riviera Country Club had its moments and its stars. Now a kid from Chile has played his way into Riviera history.

There never may be a carving of Joaquin Niemann on the course called the “The Riva,” but his name is in the record book, which isn’t bad considering who played here and when.

People like Hogan, Arnold Palmer, Sam Snead.

Joaquin Niemann, 23, is another of those prodigies from a land not enough Americans associate with golf, which in a way is both insular and unintelligent.

The game may not be as far-reaching as soccer, but it’s played in areas we sometimes ignore.

Niemann, who Friday in the second round of the Genesis Invitational shot another 8-under-par 63 and holds the halfway lead at 16-under 126, a record, is from Chile.

So is Mito Pereia, who is up there, as are Viktor Howland of Norway, Sebastian Munoz of Colombia, C.T. Pan of Taiwan and Sunga Kim of Korea. 

We used to ask, “Who are those guys?” We’ve learned. They’re world-class golfers.

Niemann in fact was the world’s No. 1-ranked amateur for many months. He was going to enroll at the University of South Florida— well, that’s closer to Chile than other U.S. schools — but there was a mix-up with his grades.

So he turned pro, which he would have done inevitably. Won a tournament early on too. Already earned millions.

Last summer, in the final round of the Tour Championship, he won another sort of event. In last place after 54 holes, he did one of those dumb but laughable things top golfers do when they have no chance. He went against the clock rather than the card, playing for time instead of score. 

Niemann looks like a guy who could enter a marathon. His caddy, Gary Mathews, looks like a middle linebacker. All the excess paraphernalia, practice material, rain gear, was extracted from the bag.

They made the 18 holes on hilly East Lake in 1 hour 53 minutes, an-all-time best. Paul Azinger, the announcer and a former PGA champion, didn’t like what Niemann did, saying he disrespected the game and cost himself a ton of money.

Niemann still earned a $405,000 bonus for finishing 29th in what had been a 30-man field (Brooks Koepka had withdrawn because of an injury) and had a good time. Spectators had something to keep them attentive before the leaders went off, Patrick Cantlay eventually winning the tournament.

"I didn't know how fast I could play 18 holes, but on the front nine, I decided to play quick, but not like crazy quick, not like rushing and hurrying up," Niemann said. "But then they told me I did like just over an hour, I was like, 'ah, I'm just going to rush it and try to break the record.' It was pretty good, the back nine."

At Riviera, the final two rounds this beautiful weekend of sunshine, Niemann will be concentrating on par, not pace. On Friday, he had seven birdies and an eagle.

“I think everything is working pretty well,” said Niemann, confirming what was on the card. “Obviously, I'm making a lot of putts right now. I feel I'm starting my ball online with the putter, so that's obviously — when you have greens this good when you start your line, I think you've got a good chance of making putts, so I think that's been big this week.”

Niemann birdied the first and second hole, to get to 10-under with 16 holes remaining.

“Yeah, obviously it was a great start after (Thursday’s) round. Didn't sleep much, it was pretty late when I finished and we started pretty early, but yeah, we got it going pretty good at the beginning.

“Yeah, I really like the way I handled myself out there after been playing good the front nine. Didn't hit a great driver on 11, still made birdie there. That different mentality this week, I think, is helping a lot.” 

Hot and Chile is a good forecast.