An exquisite lob shot to 12 inches set up that winning birdie, and it is safe to assume such flair will be on display this week.
The victory on the final event of last season’s International Series schedule also saw Niemann secure the overall Rankings title.
“I feel like the game is in a good spot at the moment,” he said. “I feel like I’m working towards the right direction. I made a few changes on my team which I’m pretty happy about. So, I have really big expectations of myself. So, yeah, it’s nice to have a good team that I can be surrounded with. I have, I think, the best support system that I could have and I got the best of the best on every aspect so I’m pretty happy where I am.
“I think the key is also the consistency of good quality work with my team. I feel like I said before I’m really happy to have the people that I have on my bag. You know, I know that they work hard and try to make me a better person, better player.”
He has been paired with 4Aces GC Captain Dustin Johnson , winner of this event in 2019 and 2021, and Legion XIII’s Tom McKibbin, who claimed the Link Hong Kong Open earlier this month, for the first two days.
They will be joined in the new season by the leading two players on The International Series Rankings at the end of the tournament.
Scott Vincent from Zimbabwe currently leads the Rankings with 325.59 points, ahead of Japan’s Yosuke Asaji in second on 285.3. Miguel Tabuena from the Philippines holds third place, having earned 232.28 points.
With the winner this week set to earn 324 points, the race is still wide open and a wealth of players are in with a chance.
The US$5million tournament, the richest of the season, is also the third from last stop on the Asian Tour calendar. It will play a significant role in helping to determine who wins the Tour’s Order of Merit title. Japan’s Kazuki Higa currently leads the Merit list, with Vincent second, and Tabuena third.
