Joaquín Niemann shot a 64 to maneuver up the leaderboard and tie Dustin Johnson for the second-round lead at LIV Golf Singapore on Saturday.
Johnson, the first-round chief, recorded a spherical of 68 to comply with his opening-round 63. He and Niemann sit at 11-under 131 for the match, three pictures forward of Lucas Herbert (66 on Saturday), Jason Kokrak (66), Cameron Tringale (67) and Sebastián Muñoz (68) at Sentosa Golf Membership.
Johnson’s 4Aces GC additionally rose to 20-under, taking a five-stroke lead over Phil Mickelson’s HyFlyers GC within the workforce competitors. Sergio Garcia’s Fireballs GC, searching for a 3rd consecutive workforce title, are eight strokes again.
Niemann, of Chile, combined eight birdies and a bogey within the second spherical. He and Johnson will play within the leaders’ group within the remaining spherical for the primary time since 2022 in Boston, a match received by Johnson when he holed an eagle putt on a playoff gap.
Each Niemann and Johnson have three LIV match wins to go together with a number of workforce victories. Niemann has one win this season, capturing the title at LIV Adelaide.
“It is at all times enjoyable enjoying with DJ,” Niemann mentioned. “I am excited for that tomorrow.”
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So is Johnson.
“Clearly I am in an excellent place with an opportunity to win however must exit and … play actually good,” Johnson mentioned. “Clearly there’s a whole lot of actually good gamers proper across the lead, so nothing is protected.”
Kokrak, within the group three pictures again at 134, would proceed a profitable streak by members of Smash GC with a person title. Teammates Talor Gooch (2023) and captain Brooks Koepka (2024) received the previous two seasons in Singapore.
“Good vibes with two teammates which have already received right here,” Kokrak mentioned. “I do know the golf course nicely sufficient. I do know what to do. It is simply going on the market and really doing it.”
On the workforce facet, Mickelson’ HyFlyers have but to win a title. They completed third final week in Hong Kong, with Mickelson in third within the participant standings to make his first LIV podium.
Tringale, one other participant within the race for the person title, mentioned he needs a victory simply as a lot for the HyFlyers, which additionally has Andy Ogletree and Brendan Steele on its workforce.
“All of us simply need it so dangerous,” Tringale mentioned. “We wish to show to people who we’re a legit workforce. There is no motive we won’t do it. We’re all excited concerning the likelihood.”
The 4Aces have seven victories to their credit score however none since 2023, a drought spanning 22 occasions.
“Final yr was in all probability a bit bit irritating, after which clearly it is nonetheless early this yr however it looks as if we’re all 4 enjoying fairly strong proper now,” Johnson mentioned of his workforce. “That is the important thing to profitable out right here is you have to have 4 gamers all enjoying nicely. If you are able to do that, then you definitely give your self an opportunity to win.”
However he is not taking something without any consideration.
“The competitors is so good out right here,” Johnson mentioned. “The standard of gamers from high to backside is fairly excessive. To win as a workforce, it is actually robust.”
