Ryder Cup: Match recaps, Day 1

LOS ANGELES – You can take the boy out of Chile but you won’t get the Chile out of the boy. Actually it seems you can’t always get the boy out of Chile either. RELATED: Final leaderboard | What’s in Niemann’s bag? Joaquin Niemann’s second PGA TOUR victory, a stunning wire-to-wire triumph in The Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club, was born back in Santiago a few months ago. The 23-year-old planned an extended off-season in Chile after The RSM Classic last fall and didn’t return to competition until the Farmers Insurance Open late last month. While Niemann didn’t qualify for the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Maui (where he finished second after a playoff in 2021) he could have returned to the Sony Open in Hawaii where he was runner up for the second straight week. But a return to his roots was way more important at the time. “A reset and refresh of the mind,” long-time girlfriend and fellow Chilean Christina Hellema Puga said. “No doubt. I needed it,” Niemann beamed. Staying true to his origins and culture is imperative for the greatest golfer Chile has ever produced. Without time to visit the beaches and lakes of his homeland, or have time with his family and friends, his mental state fades. And after not being able to close out another victory since his triumph at A Military Tribute at the Greenbrier in 2019, frustrations were certainly starting to build for the former world No.1 amateur by late 2021. Cue the trip home. A task made harder over the last few years during a pandemic. “I think I need it to bring some energy to my body,” Niemann confessed after collecting the winner’s trophy from none-other than idol Tiger Woods. “It’s something I like to do every year; I go back to my normal life. I’ve been here for a little more than three years and it is a hard life obviously, especially for us when we don’t live in the United States, being so far from home. “So it’s nice to go back once in a while, see my friends, see my family, do what I used to do when I was 16.” When pressed on what exactly that is Niemann flashed his trademark grin and said, “Party! Party, party, and more parties. We like to have a good time. Enjoy the company of friends and just live life.” This attitude is why it was no surprise to see his friends on TOUR waiting for him at the green as he closed out the two-shot win over Collin Morikawa and Cameron Young. The Latin American crew of Carlos Ortiz, Mito Pereira, Jhonattan Vegas, and Sebastian Munoz were all there to congratulate their mate, as was mentor Sergio Garcia. Not a tournament goes by when they’re not all hanging out together. Often renting houses, hiring chefs, and making sure they get a taste of ‘home’. Practice rounds are full of laughs. They help each other through the homesickness. “They’re awesome. All the Latinos, it makes our life easier, more fun, more entertainment. Obviously we play 30 weeks a year and out of those 30 weeks a year you want to spend as much time having fun as you can,” Niemann adds. “We stay together, we play practice rounds together. We’re really unified all together and we have a great relationship. Having them here on 18, it was something really special for me.” They weren’t the only visitors at the final hole. When most fans were on their way out the gates, a large crew of Latino supporters were still chanting Niemann’s name. Naturally that meant he took the Chilean flag and trophy and posed with the crew. “The fans, there was a lot of Latinos, a lot of Chileans, so you can feel the support of them. They were cheering differently than the people here,” Niemann said. “It was special to have them there and spend some time with them. They followed me the whole round.” It certainly was a special week. Niemann became the fourth wire-to-wire winner in tournament history, but the first since Charlie Sifford in 1969. He also became the second youngest winner and moved to seventh in the FedExCup and fifth in the International Presidents Cup standings. While he failed to match the longest standing 72-hole record of any current TOUR event of 264 by Lanny Wadkins by a shot he did pick up the 54-hole scoring record at 194 (-19) along the way. Niemann also led the field in birdies (21), Strokes Gained: Approach The Green (7.097) and Strokes Gained: Tee to Green (14.113). “Obviously it’s one of the toughest tournaments during the year. It’s got the best field, the best players are here and that proves to myself that I can be competing with the top guys, I can be up there in the world ranking,” Niemann said. “I think it’s going to give me a lot of confidence for what is coming next.” With speculation rife around the world of golf about potential rival leagues, Niemann now appears set to keep that ‘next’ on the PGA TOUR. The victory comes with a three-year exemption. “Everyone’s here to compete against the best players in the world. I’m here to do the same. I want to compete with the best players in the world, I want to be No. 1 one day,” he said. “There’s nothing better than what I’m feeling right now. Winning a PGA TOUR event, getting a trophy, having Tiger there, all the history behind it, there’s nothing that can compete with this.” Nothing maybe except for a trip home to Chile.

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When Dustin Johnson, Xander Schauffele, John Rahm, and other adidas Golf athletes tee it up on TOUR in 2019, they will do so in new models of the brand’s iconic TOUR360 shoe. The new TOUR360 XT line gives players three high-performance options including a redesigned cleated model, the first-ever spikeless version of the TOUR360, and a spikeless model with the BOA closure system. Much like a powerful golf swing, the TOUR360 XT family of shoes is built from the ground up. In fact, the XT name comes from the new traction system with X-shaped lugs, which is found on all three models. The advantage of the X-shaped lugs is their eight-sided touch points with the ground, which provide a multi-directional grip and increased stability throughout the swing. As a result, players feel more secure in any conditions, including uneven lies. Nowhere are these X-shaped lugs more important than on the two spikeless models. The TOUR360 XT SL is the first TOUR-quality spikeless shoe adidas has ever made. The entire outsole of the SL model features strategically placed X-Traxion lugs to provide the comfort of a spikeless shoe with the gripping power world-class players demand. Not only does the shape of the lugs help to provide traction, but their varying heights allow some of the lugs to dig deeper into the ground. adidas found that this pattern of varying heights further helped to increase traction. “We wanted to make the highest performing spikeless shoe in the industry,� said Masun Denison, global footwear director, adidas Golf. “We tested all shapes and configurations and found that the X-shape, along with a rubberized TPU outsole, provided unmatched grip, stability, flexibility, and performance. The X-shape also increases ground contact and provides more comfort on all surfaces.� The X-shaped features aren’t limited to just the lugs, either. A new X-Torsion system in the midfoot area of the outsole connecting the heel and forefoot helps to provide even more stability and control throughout the swing. Adding to the comfort of the TOUR360 XT SL is the full-length, heel-to-toe BOOST midsole. adidas has turned to the BOOST technology in the last few generations of the TOUR360. BOOST is those popcorn-like TPU beads that are steam molded and pressed together to form the midsole. The biggest advantages BOOST has over traditional EVA midsoles is its energy return and durability, which translates to more comfort over a longer period of time. Joining the TOUR360 XT SL is a BOA model. The micro-adjustability of the L6 BOA® closure system on the tongue allows for an easy, customizable fit. A new INSITE® sockliner (featured in all three models) also improves stability and balance by cupping the heel, which helps promote better posture. You’ll find the SL in four colorways while the SL BOA is available in two. Both come with a one-year waterproof warranty. For those players preferring a cleated traction system, adidas has introduced the completely redesigned TOUR360 XT with a combination of eight cleats and secondary X-Traxion lugs for additional grip and stability. By removing two spikes from the previous model, adidas increased flexibility and comfort while decreasing the overall weight of the shoe. Designers also reworked the BOOST pieces in the heel and forefoot. Both are slightly wider and have larger expansion holes on the bottom to improve stability and comfort. The new BOOST cushioning now has a lower profile, which improves the aesthetics and gives players an improved connection to the ground. With the TOUR360 XT, adidas has implemented a new forging technique underneath the three stripes. By heating that portion of the upper, the stability in the midfoot was increased and the overall weight of the shoe was decreased. The TOUR360 XT features a rich premium leather upper, comes with a two-year waterproof warranty, and is available in four colorways. The TOUR360 XT and TOUR360 XT SL are available in both medium and wide options while the TOUR360 XT BOA features a medium-wide fit. All three models are offered on a brand new last which has improved aesthetics, more forefoot width and a slightly lower ceiling. BUY EQUIPMENT HERE: PGA TOUR Superstore

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