Busan: Joaquin Niemann captured the LIV Golf Korea title in a gripping playoff, marking his eighth career victory on Sunday. Niemann edged out Talor Gooch of the United States with a decisive birdie on the first playoff hole at the par-70 Asiad Country Club. The Chilean golfer secured a $4 million winner's prize after both players finished the regulation tied at 12-under. They returned to the 18th hole for the sudden-death playoff, where Niemann placed his second shot within three feet of the hole and sank the putt for the clinching birdie.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Niemann's victory is his first since achieving five wins in 2025, and it places him at the top of the all-time LIV Golf wins list with eight. "I'm not going to lie, I was pretty nervous. I think my heart rate is a little bit up," Niemann commented after his victory. He expressed his love for the game and the thrilling moments it brings, sharing his gratitude for being able to enjoy such experiences alongside his teammates and family in Korea.
In the team standings, Crushers Golf Club, led by Bryson DeChambeau, claimed their second consecutive LIV Golf Korea title with a combined score of 23-under, winning $3 million. Korean Golf Club finished in 10th place, with Song Young-han leading his team at six-under. New team member Mun Do-yeob contributed with a score of two-under, while Captain An Byeong-hun and Kim Min-kyu finished at one-over and six-over, respectively. Despite their efforts, the Korean Golf Club entered the tournament ranked last for the season among 13 teams, having finished last in four of the previous five tournaments.
Niemann and Gooch shared the 54-hole lead at nine-under and remained tied through four holes on Sunday. Meanwhile, defending champion DeChambeau and Ben Campbell were making progress, each reaching nine-under with early birdies. Cam Smith also reached nine-under but fell out of contention following a double bogey at the par-3 sixth. Gooch took the lead at 11-under with a birdie at the fifth, but Niemann quickly matched him with a birdie at the seventh.
As competition heated up, Gooch and Niemann traded birdies to reach 13-under, distancing themselves from DeChambeau. Gooch's bogey at the ninth gave Niemann a one-shot lead entering the back nine. DeChambeau briefly closed the gap with a birdie at the 11th but fell back with a bogey at the following hole. Niemann's bogey at the 11th allowed Gooch to tie at 12-under again, but Gooch's three-putt bogey at the 12th dropped him to 11-under, a position DeChambeau matched with a birdie at the 15th.
Niemann maintained a narrow lead until Gooch sank a birdie from 27 feet on the 16th, tying the scores at 12-under with two holes remaining. With DeChambeau finishing his round at 11-under, Niemann and Gooch's pars on the final holes led to the playoff. Niemann's 20-foot birdie attempt in regulation narrowly missed, but he secured victory with a shorter putt in the playoff. Reflecting on the tense finale, Niemann noted, "Every hole was like a match play, so every hole counts, every shot."