Joaquin Niemann Starts Season Hot with Win at Greenbrier
The 2020 PGA Tour season is underway, and we have our first champion in the books. Joaquin Niemann has won A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier.
The opening tournament of 2020 ended up being a fantastic one and was just what the golf world wanted as the season kicked off. Joaquin Niemann blew the rest of the field away on Sunday, as he won the Greenbrier by six strokes.
There were plenty of good storylines as the tournament went on round-by-round. The Greenbrier started off with a bang on Thursday, as Robby Shelton kicked things off with an opening-round 62. There would be plenty of low scores to be had all week, but none expected what ended up happening on Friday.
Kevin Chappell had been out of the golf game for a while. After flying home from the Mayakoba Classic last Fall, he couldn’t even make it to baggage claim. Medication, stretching, and therapy weren’t cutting it any longer. He couldn’t even feel his left leg anymore. On November 28th, he underwent a microdiscectomy and laminectomy in the region of his lower back.
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Here we are 10 months later, in his first tournament back on the PGA Tour, Chappell started off Thursday at the Greenbrier with a one-over 71. Then the magic started on Friday, and it started early.
He started on the 10th hole, opening with a par. On 11, he made a birdie. Then he went birdie, birdie, birdie, birdie, birdie, birdie, birdie, birdie.
No. That’s not a misprint. He tied the PGA record with nine straight birdies, en route to a 59, becoming just the 11th player to break 60.
It took a lot out of him though, as he would finish 73-72, tied for 47th place.
The second round was full of great scores, although Chappell was the one that caught everyone’s attention.
Joaquin Niemann was the man to beat this week, as he lead or shared a lead after every round but the first. 65-62-68-64 would be his finishing scores, and the world is definitely more aware of Niemann, as this win has let everyone know that there are other youngsters worth knowing besides Morikawa, Wolff, and Hovland.
By the way, Joaquin Niemann is younger than Hovland and Morikawa. He will finally turn 21 in November.
When you look at how efficiently he played, it’s easy to see why Niemann ran away from the rest of the competition. Through his first two rounds, he carded 11 birdies and one eagle. No bogeys. In fact, his first bogey would come on the 11th hole of round three, meaning he went 46 holes before carding a red number.
Niemann really fell off Sunday, as he had two bogeys. Such substandard play (in case you couldn’t tell, very heavy sarcasm here). He also had eight birdies, including six on the back nine.
For anyone looking to get into the game of golf or those who are trying to find a new golfer to root for, there is no better time than now. Viktor Hovland turns 22 this week. Matthew Wolff is 20, and won’t turn 21 until The Masters. Collin Morikawa is the old guy of the group and will turn 23 in February.
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Joaquin Niemann showed he belongs to this great group of youngsters. After his dominance at A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier to open the season, it’s easy to see why.