Niemann on track for fifth LIV Golf success of season
The Torque GC captain moved to 14-under par with an eight-under 65 on Saturday at the JCB Golf and Country Club in Rocester, England. The Chilean racked up nine birdies with a lone bogey at the par-4 15th hole.
Bubba Watson (68) is in solo second at eight under, while fellow American Caleb Surratt (68), England's Paul Casey (68) and Poland's Adrian Meronk (70) are tied for third at seven under.
Niemann, already a four-time winner on the LIV Golf tour this season, taking him to six overall, is looking to add his to his titles at Adelaide, Singapore, Mexico City and Virginia.
"I had a great time. I made a lot of putts," he said.
"I was laughing at it sometimes because I'm not used to seeing so many of those going in, and it's kind of cool to see that.
"Other than that, I hit some good shots. Everything felt pretty much under control, off the tee, irons, putting. Yeah, just pretty happy the way I've been going through the last two days."
Niemann, who was joint-second here last year, had five birdies on the front nine, including three in a row at Nos. 1-3.
Niemann's Torque GC are also in front for the team championship at 24 under, three shots ahead of Legion XIII as they seek a first team title since 2023.
Watson knows it will take a hot round and perhaps poor weather to keep Niemann off the top of the podium.
"He's playing so good, you don't expect him to do anything, like come backwards," Watson said.
"Wind direction - I haven't looked at the weather. That can change a golf course or how we play it, pin setups.
"But we're going to give it our all and then hopefully that's good enough."
Five players are tied for sixth at six under, including Australia's Marc Leishman (71).
His Ripper GC captain Cameron Smith (72) sits at four under, with fellow teammates Matt Jones (72) two under and Lucas Herbert (74) one under.
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Perth Now
an hour ago
- Perth Now
It's very special: swim star eyes legend's landmark
Ian Thorpe believes there's no end in sight to Mollie O'Callaghan's greatness as the swim phenom prepares to take down his legendary landmark. O'Callaghan on Friday is favoured to surpass Thorpe's Australian record for most gold medals at world championships. The 21-year-old joined Thorpe with 11 golds at worlds when anchoring Australia's triumphant women's 4x200m freestyle relay in Singapore on Thursday night. "It is very special," O'Callaghan said. "Like, it would be wrong if I said it wasn't special, it's a huge accomplishment in a way." Thorpe expects his record to tumble when red-hot favourite O'Callaghan races the women's 100m freestyle final on Friday night. "I look at her, and I see the gold medallist," Thorpe said in commentary for Channel Nine. "She will go far beyond 11 (golds). "And looking ... beyond for Mollie O'Callaghan, is the opportunity not only at the world championships but multiple Olympics." O'Callaghan has already matched Thorpe's five Olympic golds. Retired swim great Emma McKeon holds the Australian record for most Olympic golds, six. At the Singapore worlds, Australia top the medal tally with three nights of competition remaining with five golds, one more than the United States. The Dolphins have also won one silver and five bronze medals, including one to Kyle Chalmers in Thursday night's men's 100m freestyle final. Chalmers finished behind Romania's David Popovici who posted the second-fastest time ever, 46.51 seconds, followed by American Jack Alexy (46.92). The South Australian 27-year-old touched in 47.17 - his personal best is 47.08 but he remains steadfast that he can break the 47-second barrier. "Just kind of reinventing myself in the sport and finding a new way to swim fast," Chalmers said. "I'm just really grateful to have a really supportive team that believe in me, or probably believe in me more than I have believed in myself since Paris (Olympics) last year. "It's quite challenging to be beaten by a whole second in an Olympic final and then try and reset and believe you can be good enough to continue to compete in that event." Chalmers clocked 47.48 in snaring silver at last year's Olympics behind China's Pan Zhanle, who won in a world record 46.40. "I have to focus completely on myself," Chalmers said. "I'm not focusing on racing the person next to me or what other people are doing. "I'm focusing on my technique and my skill execution and my stroke rate and things that I know is going to make me be able to compete with these guys when it matters most in LA (2028 Olympics)."
The Age
4 hours ago
- The Age
Marchand stuns world with ‘crazy' world record in semi-final as O'Callaghan wins more gold
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The Advertiser
5 hours ago
- The Advertiser
O'Callaghan on cusp of record with relay gold at worlds
Swim star Mollie O'Callaghan has equalled the golden haul of a legend by anchoring another Australian relay triumph at the world titles. O'Callaghan has helped Australia's women's 4x200m freestyle relay team secure gold in Singapore on Thursday night. The 21-year-old has 11 career golds at world titles, equalling the Australian record of Ian Thorpe. O'Callaghan is favourite to win her 12th gold in the 100m freestyle on Friday night - she was fastest through the semis before swimming the relay. "It was pretty rough backing it up ... (but) it's a dream to be part of this team," she said. The victory of O'Callaghan, Lani Pallister, Jamie Perkins and Brittany Castelluzzo was Australia's third relay gold of the titles and came as the Dolphins also bagged two bronze medals on Thursday night. Kyle Chalmers (men's 100m freestyle) and Lizzie Dekkers (women's 200m butterfly) both reached the podium. Australia retain top spot on the medal tally with five golds, one silver and five bronze. The United States (four gold) is next best. Dolphins stalwart Chalmers remains bullish of breaking a personal barrier after finishing behind Romania's sizzling David Popovici, who clocked the second-fastest time ever - 46.51 seconds - and American Jack Alexy (46.92). Chalmers touched in 47.17 - he is yet to swim the race in less than 47 seconds, which is now the realm of world winners. "Those guys saw a 46.4 last year and everyone has been training and believing they can swim 46 now - and 46 has become the new normal," Chalmers said. "It's amazing how stacked that race is now." Chalmers has twice logged personal best times of 47.08 and, at the age of 27, believes he can improve. "I was never going to swim 46.5, or around that mark, unfortunately, I would have loved to see 46 next to my name," he said. "But I'm really, really proud of that performance. To come away with a medal in such a stacked final is something I'm extremely proud of." Earlier Thursday night, Dekkers took the bronze in a women's 200m butterfly won by Canadian star Summer McIntosh - the 18-year-old's third gold of the titles. "Physically, I'm not at my best," said Dekkers, a late call-up to the team when Abbey Connor withdrew for personal reasons. "So I knew that mentally, I had to be there ... I love racing, and that's why we all do this, because there's something about standing behind the blocks that we all love." Swim star Mollie O'Callaghan has equalled the golden haul of a legend by anchoring another Australian relay triumph at the world titles. O'Callaghan has helped Australia's women's 4x200m freestyle relay team secure gold in Singapore on Thursday night. The 21-year-old has 11 career golds at world titles, equalling the Australian record of Ian Thorpe. O'Callaghan is favourite to win her 12th gold in the 100m freestyle on Friday night - she was fastest through the semis before swimming the relay. "It was pretty rough backing it up ... (but) it's a dream to be part of this team," she said. The victory of O'Callaghan, Lani Pallister, Jamie Perkins and Brittany Castelluzzo was Australia's third relay gold of the titles and came as the Dolphins also bagged two bronze medals on Thursday night. Kyle Chalmers (men's 100m freestyle) and Lizzie Dekkers (women's 200m butterfly) both reached the podium. Australia retain top spot on the medal tally with five golds, one silver and five bronze. The United States (four gold) is next best. Dolphins stalwart Chalmers remains bullish of breaking a personal barrier after finishing behind Romania's sizzling David Popovici, who clocked the second-fastest time ever - 46.51 seconds - and American Jack Alexy (46.92). Chalmers touched in 47.17 - he is yet to swim the race in less than 47 seconds, which is now the realm of world winners. "Those guys saw a 46.4 last year and everyone has been training and believing they can swim 46 now - and 46 has become the new normal," Chalmers said. "It's amazing how stacked that race is now." Chalmers has twice logged personal best times of 47.08 and, at the age of 27, believes he can improve. "I was never going to swim 46.5, or around that mark, unfortunately, I would have loved to see 46 next to my name," he said. "But I'm really, really proud of that performance. To come away with a medal in such a stacked final is something I'm extremely proud of." Earlier Thursday night, Dekkers took the bronze in a women's 200m butterfly won by Canadian star Summer McIntosh - the 18-year-old's third gold of the titles. "Physically, I'm not at my best," said Dekkers, a late call-up to the team when Abbey Connor withdrew for personal reasons. "So I knew that mentally, I had to be there ... I love racing, and that's why we all do this, because there's something about standing behind the blocks that we all love." Swim star Mollie O'Callaghan has equalled the golden haul of a legend by anchoring another Australian relay triumph at the world titles. O'Callaghan has helped Australia's women's 4x200m freestyle relay team secure gold in Singapore on Thursday night. The 21-year-old has 11 career golds at world titles, equalling the Australian record of Ian Thorpe. O'Callaghan is favourite to win her 12th gold in the 100m freestyle on Friday night - she was fastest through the semis before swimming the relay. "It was pretty rough backing it up ... (but) it's a dream to be part of this team," she said. The victory of O'Callaghan, Lani Pallister, Jamie Perkins and Brittany Castelluzzo was Australia's third relay gold of the titles and came as the Dolphins also bagged two bronze medals on Thursday night. Kyle Chalmers (men's 100m freestyle) and Lizzie Dekkers (women's 200m butterfly) both reached the podium. Australia retain top spot on the medal tally with five golds, one silver and five bronze. The United States (four gold) is next best. Dolphins stalwart Chalmers remains bullish of breaking a personal barrier after finishing behind Romania's sizzling David Popovici, who clocked the second-fastest time ever - 46.51 seconds - and American Jack Alexy (46.92). Chalmers touched in 47.17 - he is yet to swim the race in less than 47 seconds, which is now the realm of world winners. "Those guys saw a 46.4 last year and everyone has been training and believing they can swim 46 now - and 46 has become the new normal," Chalmers said. "It's amazing how stacked that race is now." Chalmers has twice logged personal best times of 47.08 and, at the age of 27, believes he can improve. "I was never going to swim 46.5, or around that mark, unfortunately, I would have loved to see 46 next to my name," he said. "But I'm really, really proud of that performance. To come away with a medal in such a stacked final is something I'm extremely proud of." Earlier Thursday night, Dekkers took the bronze in a women's 200m butterfly won by Canadian star Summer McIntosh - the 18-year-old's third gold of the titles. "Physically, I'm not at my best," said Dekkers, a late call-up to the team when Abbey Connor withdrew for personal reasons. "So I knew that mentally, I had to be there ... I love racing, and that's why we all do this, because there's something about standing behind the blocks that we all love."
