LOS ANGELES: Joaquin Niemann's gritty even par 71 was enough to give the 23-year-old Chilean his second US PGA Tour title on Sunday, a two-shot triumph in the Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club.
Niemann couldn't match the fireworks of the back-to-back 63s he shot on Thursday and Friday.
But his 19-under total of 265 gave him a two-stroke victory over world number two Collin Morikawa and US rookie Cameron Young.
Morikawa surged up the leaderboard with an impressive six-under par 65 for 267, while Young, who started the day three adrift, carded a one-under 70.
"To be honest it was a really long day today," admitted Niemann, who was feeling the pressure to complete a wire-to-wire victory and claim a second career title after winning at The Greenbrier in 2019. "I'm so happy it's finally done."
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Niemann could finally smile as he accepted the trophy from tournament host Tiger Woods.
"He's one of my idols, I always watched him on TV and I still do," Niemann said of 15-time major champion Woods, who fulfilled his hosting duties but didn't play as he continues to recover from devastating leg injuries suffered in a car crash last year.
The field featured all of the world's top-10 ranked players, which also made the victory special, Niemann said.
"It proves I can play with the top guys, I can be up there in the world ranking," he said. "I think it's going to give me a lot of confidence for what is coming next."
Niemann, who had already broken the tournament's 36-hole and 54-hole scoring records, had a chance to break the 37-year-old 72-hole record of 264 set by Lanny Wadkins back in 1985.
But even though he led all week, there were some tense moments on Sunday -- starting with a birdie miss from within four feet at the opening hole.
He bogeyed the seventh, where he was in a fairway bunker and three-putted. But he made the turn even for the day after a seven-foot birdie putt at the eighth -- where Young bogeyed to fall back.
Niemann missed another short birdie attempt at the 10th, then chipped in for eagle at the 11th to reach 21-under -- and take a five-shot lead over playing partner Young.
But back-to-back bogeys at the 14th and 15th -- where his five-foot putt for par lipped out -- saw Niemann's lead dwindle again.
Good things going forward
Young, who was one-over for the day through 10 holes, gained ground with a birdie at the 11th and a hole out for birdie at 15 after he'd been in a fairway bunker.
But he couldn't apply consistent pressure, giving a stroke back when he was unable to get up and down from a greenside bunker at the par-three 16th before his last birdie of the day at the 17th.
"Overall you finish tied for second at Riviera, I can't complain," Young said. "I mean, I'm lucky just to be here and I know it does some good things for me going forward, so I am happy with the week, for sure."
Morikawa, who could have toppled Spain's Jon Rahm from the number one world ranking with a victory this week, holed out for a birdie at the seventh and an eagle at the 10th in his impressive round.
He was within two after draining a seven-foot birdie putt at the 17th but couldn't get his birdie attempt from just inside 10 feet to fall at the last.
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