LOS ANGELES — Fans at the 10th green at Riviera Country Club began chanting Joaquin Niemann's name after the 23-year-old Chilean drained a 22-foot putt from the fringe for an eagle, another in a bagful of great shots Niemann has hit during his three-day assault on the iconic Pacific Palisades course.
"Nie-mann! Nie-mann!" the gallery cheered. "We are not worthy!"
Most of the golfers in the Genesis Invitational field know exactly how those fans feel. Niemann has been in a class of his own for three rounds, shooting a three-under-par 68 on Saturday to set a 54-hole course record and take a three-stroke lead into Sunday's final round.