LIV Golf’s Rd. 3 Masters notebook: Putter holding back Niemann

AUGUSTA, Ga. – Joaquin Niemann entered this week’s Masters with two LIV Golf wins and the points lead this season. But his putter hasn’t been consistent, and Augusta National has made him pay for that.

The Torque GC captain shot a 2-under 70 in Saturday’s third round, his first under-par round of the week. That leaves him at even for the tournament entering Sunday’s final round and outside the top 25.

If he can move up into the top 15, it will be his best Masters result. If he can move into the top 12, he’ll earn an invite to next year’s Masters. But he’s too far back to dream of a green jacket this year.

Blame the putter.

“There’s no hope, but it is what it is,” he said. “I’ve been playing great. I feel like anytime that you come, tomorrow they all go in and have a beautiful round.”

The 26-year-old Chilean has been very pleased with his ball-striking this week, and that’s given him confidence that Augusta National is a course that suits him. But like many players, he remains perplexed by the greens.

Niemann opened with an even-par 72 in which he needed 30 putts. He shot 74 on Friday, needing 31 putts. And his 2-under 70 was fashioned despite 33 putts.

“All three days have been amazing, my ball-striking,” Niemann said. “I feel like how bad I’ve been putting, I could still have a chance if I make two-putts every day, which is pretty easy to do. Feel like I just need to work on the greens.”

In his five LIV Golf starts this season, he ranks a respectable seventh in putting average. But in the season opener in Riyadh, he was near the bottom of the field in that category.

It’s a reflection of the area that most needs his attention.

“I’ve got to figure out something,” he said. “I’ve got to figure out how to get that consistency that I have with my ball-striking. I know I’ve been putting well on a few LIV events, obviously not all of them. If I putted like the way I hit the ball, I feel like I could be winning a lot more.

“But I feel like everybody has weaknesses and that’s one of mine. I’ve got to figure out how to get it better.”

RAHM’S HOT START/COLD FINISH

Legion XIII Captain Jon Rahm opened his round with three consecutive birdies. Was he thinking it might be one of those special days?

“No,” he said. “Not at Augusta National.”

A three-putt bogey at the fifth slowed his momentum, and the 2023 Masters champ eventually finished with a 2-under 70 that included bogeys on his final two holes.

He joins Niemann at even par for the tournament. The mindset heading into Sunday?

“Same as today,” he said. “See if I can go out there and shoot some 6-, 7-under or lower and hope for the best.”

SCHWARTZEL ‘AUGUSTA-IZED’

Stinger GC’s Charl Schwartzel shot a second consecutive even-par 72, leaving him at 2 over for the tournament.

He said hesitation on his iron shots have been costly, citing his bogey at the 10th hole Saturday with a 9-iron from the middle of the fairway.

“Getting Augusta-ized,” he said. “The flags are all three, four yards from disaster. If it’s a back flag, you’re trying to play short but I’m playing too conservative. Sometimes you just need to hit for the flag.”

That’s his plan Sunday.

“I’ve got nothing to lose,” said the 2011 Masters champ. “Might as well fire at it and try to play a bit more aggressive.”

(Photos by Montana Pritchard/LIV Golf)