Joaquín Niemann is having an unforgettable year. This Sunday, the Chilean earned his fourth victory in just eight tournaments of the LIV Golf 2025 season, winning with a score of -15 at LIV Golf Virginia. Coming from behind, he edged out Anirban Lahiri and Graeme McDowell (-14) by a single shot, solidifying a campaign that is already historic for the 26-year-old golfer, who leads the overall standings with authority.
The win not only increased his tally to six titles in the LIV Golf League —more than any other player since the circuit’s creation in 2022— but also earned him a prize of US$4 million, raising his earnings this season to over US$17 million. Inspired by Carlos Alcaraz‘s feat at Roland Garros, Joaquín admitted that the Spanish tennis star’s example was key to staying calm and overcoming a four-shot deficit in the final round.
Records, reflections and a new challenge at the US Open
With this new title, Niemann not only reinforces his status as the all-time winningest player in LIV Golf history, but also arrives as one of the most watched figures heading into the US Open, the third major of the season, taking place this Thursday at Oakmont GC. Despite his strong form, the Chilean remains grounded and knows there’s still room for improvement: he was self-critical about his long game and admitted his driver hasn’t been at its best. He also prefers to approach his debut at Oakmont with no big expectations, viewing it more as a learning process in major tournaments.
His performance in Virginia was the result of a mindset shift. After a Saturday round that left him unsatisfied, Niemann chose to focus on patience and a better attitude for the final round. “I felt like I was going to have a low round, but I didn’t imagine eight under par,” he said. He also expressed gratitude for being in such a privileged position, acknowledging that it’s not something that happens every day. His honesty in analyzing both the good and the areas to improve shows him as a mature athlete, aware of his development and determined to keep growing in a season that is already extraordinary.
