Niemann lifts The Greenbrier to grab first PGA Tour event

Los Angeles: Joaquin Niemann fired a closing round of 64 on Sunday to capture The Greenbrier by six strokes and become the first Chilean to win on the US PGA Tour.

The 20-year-old Niemann roared home with three straight birdies on his final three holes, capping it off with a 25-foot bomb on 18 at the Old White TPC course in Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.

Niemann finished with a 21-under par total of 259, six shots ahead of American Tom Hoge, who shot a 65.

Brian Harman, Harris English, Nate Lashley and Richy Werenski finished in a tie for third at 14-under.

The tournament moved from its traditional spot in July to September to kick off the fall schedule for the 2019-20 PGA season.

Niemann started quickly on his back nine, rolling in three birdies on his first four holes and then posting three more on 16, 17 and the par-three 18.

He is the youngest international winner on the Tour since 1923 and the first third round leader to hold on and claim this event.

The win also earned him spots in the 2020 Masters and the PGA Championship.

Niemann recorded his first win in his 44th start on the PGA Tour.

His nine career top-10 PGA finishes, including two ties for fifth last season.

Defending champion Kevin Na shot back-to-back 68s on Saturday and Sunday and finished in a tie for 14th.

Meanwhile, Sergio Garcia sealed his first victory of the season on Sunday by beating Danish teenager Nicolai Hojgaard by one shot to win the Dutch Open in Amsterdam.

The 18-year-old Hojgaard put the pressure on Garcia by carding a four-under-par final round of 68 to set a clubhouse lead of 17-under.

But the experienced Spaniard recovered from a 17th-hole bogey by safely parring the last to sign for a 69 and an 18-under total.

Elsewhere, Suzann Pettersen announced her retirement from professional golf after sinking the winning putt in Europe’s thrilling Solheim Cup victory over the US at Gleneagles on Sunday.

The 38-year-old was playing in her ninth Solheim Cup but it was a rare outing in the last two years.

She gave birth to her first child, Herman, just over a year ago and only made the Solheim as a shock wildcard selection from captain Catriona Matthew.

“This is the end of my Solheim career, and the end for me in professional golf,” she said.

Agence France-Presse