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Joaquin Niemann earns U.S. Open spot with LIV win as late double keeps Bryson DeChambeau from victory

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With dance music blaring, live visual effects erupting and Mexico City fans standing almost on top of the tee box at the par-3 18th at Club Golf Chapultepec, Joaquin Niemann’s path to earning a start at the U.S. Open was unique.

For his last swing of the week at LIV Golf Mexico City, the Chilean struck an iron shot that flirted with a disastrous bounce back into a water hazard. Instead, the ball hopped forward onto the green and, after Niemann drained the birdie putt, he secured a three-shot victory over Bryson DeChambeau and Lucas Herbert. He also locked up a start at June’s U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club—the first pathway from LIV Golf to a major championship in the league’s three-year timeline.

“I was able to hit great shots and finish on 18 with a little bit of style, too, having the crowds in the background,” Niemann said of his fifth career LIV victory.

The 26-year-old Niemann led LIV’s individual standings before Mexico City, having won twice this season. A win at Club de Golf Chapultepec—a former PGA Tour host course that sits at 7,800 feet above sea level—locked up a lead that couldn’t be chased down at next week’s event in South Korea.

The ticket to Oakmont had been a carrot dangling for LIV players who are not already exempt into the majors since the USGA announced in February that the leading points scorer on the LIV standings through May 18 would be offered a U.S. Open spot. The Open Championship is also offering a place at Royal Portrush in July.

Niemann, a winner across the PGA and DP World tours who joined LIV in the fall of 2022, joked about the relief of not having to tee up in 36-hole qualifying for the U.S. Open. That was an avenue some LIV players had to take in 2023 and 2024. Niemann missed a playoff at last year’s final qualifying by one shot.

“My team was asking me to sign up for the qualifier and the sectional, and I wasn’t really into that, so more than anything I’m grateful that I’m not playing 36 holes on a Monday after a tournament,” Nieman said after his win.

Ironically, the man who opened the door Sunday for Niemann to walk through was the reigning U.S. Open champion, DeChambeau. Leading by one shot going into the final round in Mexico, DeChambeau continued his final-round struggles—following a 75 on Sunday at the Masters—with an even-par 71 at Chapultepec.

Niemann started the final round two shots behind playing partner DeChambeau but grabbed his third victory in six events of the season following wins at Adelaide and Singapore. He produced seven birdies and a lone bogey for a six-under 65.

“I knew I needed to do something special with Bryson how he’s been playing and Cam [Smith] the calibre of player he is,” Niemann said. “It was a really exciting Sunday for me to be with them in the last group, especially in Mexico. I was fitting in pretty well with the crowd; they were giving me a lot of energy.”

DeChambeau was relegated to T-2 alongside Australian Lucas Herbert. In the team component, Jon Rahm’s Legion XIII won at 28 under while Smith’s Ripper GC was second at 26 under and Dustin Johnson’s 4Aces GC third at 21 under.

One scene in particular underlined DeChambeau’s round on Sunday. At the par-4 13th tee, which at 462 yards he can tackle with a driver and sand wedge before altitude is factored in, DeChambeau swung so hard he lost his balance. He blocked his drive out of bounds and took a double-bogey 6. After a bogey on the next hole, he never recovered.

Herbert came from the clouds with a 10-under 61 that equalled the course record Rahm set in 2020 on the PGA Tour.

“It was one of those rounds where it all just clicks for you,” Herbert said.

It all clicked for Niemann, who was more impressed with another personal milestone than becoming the first LIV player to earn a direct path into a major: his mother was in the gallery at Chapultepec.

“As a professional, she hadn’t seen me win on the PGA Tour and not here [LIV], either,” he said, “so it was pretty special.”

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