Young Joaquin Niemann, a chap who seems to have mastered the art of looking like he just stepped out of a particularly serene yoga retreat, is currently perched at the top of LIV Golf New York. He’s got a two-stroke lead, which is nice, and a third-round 70 that was… well, it was a 70.
He spent that round with Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia, two fellas who’ve seen more golf courses than I’ve seen bad haircuts. You’d think they’d be dissecting the nuances of a perfectly struck four-iron, or perhaps lamenting the precise geometry of a drive that went just a tad too far left. But Niemann, bless his calm heart, described the experience as merely "pretty good" and that he "enjoyed playing with Lee and Sergio." Honestly, after the season he’s had, I’d have been hoping for tales of ancient golfing spirits or maybe some tips on how to avoid tossing a club into orbit.
Niemann's season has been a bit of a rollercoaster, hasn't it? A two-shot penalty for club-tossing at the US Open, forgetting to show up at the Masters, and then bailing early from The Open. It’s like a sports sitcom where the protagonist keeps tripping over his own feet but somehow still ends up with the girl – or in this case, a substantial cheque. Yet, here he is, leading the pack, proving that even after a campaign filled with public displays of what I can only assume were suppressed volcanic eruptions of frustration, a chance at redemption (and money!) is still on the table.
When asked if this juicy lead might make him play it safe on Sunday, Niemann, with the kind of worldly wisdom that comes from either actual experience or watching a lot of golf documentaries, just shrugged. He’s going to play his game. He knows a two-shot lead isn't exactly a velvet-lined executive lounge; it's more like standing on a slightly wobbly plank over a pool of very expensive water. The chase is on, and it looks like Niemann’s ready to actually swing, rather than just stand there looking noble like some marble statue that’s about to get a bird do its business on its head.