Joaquin Niemann Fends Off Spirited Bubba Watson Fightback To Win LIV Golf UK

HELLO ALL

Good morning, afternoon and evening all, and welcome to Golf Monthly's final round coverage of LIV Golf UK, which takes place at JCB Golf & Country Club.

Joaquin Niemann led by six shots going into the final round and, at the halfway stage, he continues to lead comfortably.

Sitting two-under for his round, Niemann is on-course for a fifth LIV Golf League victory of the season, which will extend his lead in the Individual Standings.

THREE-WAY TIE FOR THIRD

Dean Burmester had been solo third but, in the last five minutes, Adrian Meronk has chipped in for birdie, while Talor Gooch rolls in a short putt for a gain.

Both men are now nine-under and in a three-way share of third. Caleb Surratt is still 10-under, one clear of the three men.

BURMESTER MOVES INTO SECOND

Excellent birdie at the 13th from Burmester, who rolls in a mid-range putt to jump into a share of second alongside Surratt.

PAR AT THE 10TH FOR NIEMANN

It's a par at the par 5 10th, which will feel like a dropped shot for the leader. Niemann puts his second shot short of the green, with his chip coming in fiery.

He leaves himself 16-feet for birdie and, although it's a good putt, it slides by the right-side. He remains 16-under, three clear of Burmester, Surratt and Bubba Watson.

BIRDIES GALORE

Surratt isn't giving up here and, at the par 4 11th, he makes a birdie to get to 11-under and into solo second.

At the same hole, Meronk also puts his approach close, with the 32-year-old leaving a great look at birdie. He will move to 10-under if he holes that.

OUTRAGEOUS SHOT FROM BUBBA

MISTAKE FROM THE LEADER

Finding the fairway with his tee shot at the 11th, Niemann has just 100-yards into the green.

The pin is in a getable area, with a backstop behind it, but the Chilean misses it with his approach. It moves away from the flag, leaving a very tough two-putt coming up.

BUBBA BIRDIE

Watson has come out firing on the back nine, with an eagle at the 10th followed by a birdie at the 11th. He is now 11-under and in a three-way share of second.

Alongside the two-time Major winner is Surratt and Burmester, with Meronk one shot back of the threesome at 10-under-par.

MERONK MOVES TO 11-UNDER

Add another player to the 11-under table! Firing in another great approach at the 12th, Meronk rolls in his putt for a third straight birdie. He is now in a four-way tie for second.

NIEMANN DRIVES THE 12TH

Outrageously good from Niemann at the 320-yard par 4! His driver has been superb this week and, striking his tee shot, the ball finishes around 15-foot from the flag, leaving a great chance at eagle.

FOUR STRAIGHT BIRDIES FOR BUBBA

The hot streak continues for Watson, who very nearly holes out from the middle of the fairway! Playing the par 4 12th, the 46-year-old plays an excellent wedge that finishes on the lip of the hole.

He'll tap in for a birdie, which now puts him five-under through his last four holes and 12-under overall. It now means Watson is solo second, one clear of Surratt, Meronk and Burmester.

LEADER REMAINS FIVE CLEAR

After Watson birdies, Niemann has a chance to extend his lead via an eagle putt. However, the 26-year-old's effort slides by, leaving a tap-in birdie. He gets to 17-under, five clear of Watson.

BOGEY FOR MERONK

The Cleeks GC player makes a mess of the par 5 13th, with Meronk producing a poor bogey at one of the easier holes on the course.

At the same hole, Surratt rolls in a seven-footer for birdie to join Watson in second at 12-under. His Legion XIII side lead the team standings by seven strokes, as they look to defend their title from last year.

ANOTHER DOD FROM BUBBA

I'm enjoying this from Watson! After hitting driver off the deck at the 10th, the American produces another outrageous shot from the 12th fairway!

Finding the short grass, Watson hits the big stick from 260-yards and, from a downhill lie, it lands on the middle of the green and finishes around 20-foot from the flag.

That puts some pressure on Niemann, who is also on the fairway. He, however, pulls his fairway wood well left, finishing in the thicker grass pin-high.

SURRATT PARS THE 14TH

The par 3 14th is the 'Party-Hole' this week and, after a great approach, Surratt just misses his birdie attempt to stay at 12-under.

ANOTHER EAGLE FOR BUBBA

Stop that Watson! After hitting driver off the deck to 20-feet at the 13th, Watson converts his eagle attempt to be seven-under-par through his last five holes. Seriously good golf.

In fairness to Niemann, after having to chip out from the rough, he gets up-and-down to save par, remaining three clear of Watson. Niemann did lead by eight, but has seen his advantage drop following his playing partner's heroics.

GREAT TEE SHOTS AT THE 14TH

The 170-yard par 3 is full of fans and, in the final group, all three players find the green and leave good looks at birdie.

Niemann is closest, which is impressive considering he had just watched Watson and Casey put their tee shots close. This could be huge with just five holes remaining.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

Niemann misses his birdie putt and, in the group, Casey holes his attempt to move into the top 10.

The man on fire right now is Watson and, after being seven-under through five holes, he is now eight-under through six holes! Two eagles and four birdies puts him 15-under for the tournament and just two back of Niemann!

UNREAL GOLF FROM BUBBA

NIEMANN RESPONDS

Watson is within two shots of Niemann but, at the 15th, Watson finds the rough off the tee and puts his approach into the second cut.

That will be a tough up-and-down for the American and, to make things worse, Niemann plays a delightful approach that leaves him just six-foot for birdie. Another two-shot swing inbound?

NIEMANN MOVES THREE CLEAR

This is golf of the highest quality. Short-sided at the 15th, Watson plays a great chip to six-foot over the bunker, with the American then holing the putt to remain at 15-under.

Niemann, meanwhile, follows his epic approach with a great birdie putt to move to 18-under. He is three clear with three remaining.

POOR APPROACHES AT THE 16TH

The 16th is one of the toughest holes on the course and, with Niemann up first, his approach goes long of the flag and leaves a lengthy two-putt for par.

After his second, Watson is up next and, with the door ajar, his approach comes up short and spins off the green. He also has a lengthy two-putt, but it should be easier as it's uphill for the majority of it.

GOOCH FINISHES AT 11-UNDER

Talor Gooch, who won in Valderrama, birdies the first hole, his 18th, to shoot a five-under 66 and finish 11-under. That is a strong two weeks for the 2023 Individual champion.

NIEMANN PARS, WATSON BOGEYS

Is that the tournament right there? Both Niemann and Watson play respectable chips after poor second shots, with both leaving around eight-feet to save par.

Watson is up first and, with a right-to-left putt, it slides by, leading to a first bogey in seven holes. Niemann has a chance to extend his lead to four and, from short-range, he calmly rolls it in for a mammoth par save.

LEGION XIII WIN THE TEAM EVENT

Jon Rahm birdies his final hole to finish 10-under and in a share of fourth.

Along with yet another strong individual result, his Legion XIII side claim the team title, with Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton, Caleb Surratt and Tom McKibbin securing a fourth team win of 2025 and extend their lead at the top of the standings.

NIEMANN LEADS BY FOUR GOING DOWN THE LAST

The final group safely navigate the 17th, with both Niemann and Watson parring the long par 3.

Niemann leads by four strokes going down the final hole, which is a 460-yard par 4 that plays uphill. For the Chilean, he blasts his drive down the left-side of the fairway.

JOAQUIN NIEMANN WINS LIV GOLF UK

WINNER BY THREE

Joaquin Niemann goes long with his approach at the last and, despite a poor chip, a closing bogey hands the Chilean a three stroke victory over Bubba Watson, who produced some electric golf at JCB Golf & Country Club.

Niemann extends his lead in the Individual Standings and is now 39 points clear of Jon Rahm. It's his fifth victory in 2025.