PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. – After a jittery front nine on Sunday, Joaquin Niemann took care of any of the suspense as to who might win the Genesis Invitational when he chipped in from 45 feet off the green at the par-5 11th hole for eagle.
Niemann, 23, handled the bright lights of Los Angeles and overcame a sluggish start to coast to the finish line, closing in even-par 71 at Riviera Country Club and a two-stroke victory over Collin Morikawa and Cameron Young. Niemann’s ball-striking clinic made him the first wire-to-wire winner of the Genesis since Hall of Famer Charlie Sifford in 1969 and the youngest tournament champion.
“Any week that he’s on is going to be like this week,” said Mexico’s Carlos Ortiz, who shared a house with the champion and kidded him that he was playing a different golf course this week.
