Royal Troon is chewing up and spitting out many of the world’s best golfers in this year’s Open Championship. Justin Thomas started Friday at 3-under, and needed a chip-in birdie at the 12th to get back to seven over par for his second round.
But nobody had a quicker fall from premier position than Joaquin Niemann. The 25-year-old Chilean who won twice on the PGA Tour before defecting to LIV has never finished in the top 15 at a major. Looked like that was going to change until he arrived at the par-3 eighth, aka the Postage Stamp. Kind of fitting since Niemann more or less kept airmailing the green on the short but tricky 120-yard hole.
Finding the bunker off the tee with a wedge in your hand is frustrating enough. Compounding your problems by blading your sand shot into the next trap is far from ideal.
The perils of the Postage Stamp.
Watch the drama unfold here on the Par-3 channel:https://t.co/5iPQIT2nXJ pic.twitter.com/fLEtUAu0PJ
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 19, 2024
That’s the mere tip of the iceberg when it comes to Niemann’s meltdown, which would make the polar ice caps blush. Whether you look at the play-by-play or the Illuminati-style triangulation of his awful odyssey at No. 8, this serves as a hilarious reminder of how humbling golf can be.
Joaco Niemann just made an 8 at the 120 yard Postage Stamp to fall from T7 to T46 in just 1 hole 😳 pic.twitter.com/9NbKJwz9cq
— Flushing It (@flushingitgolf) July 19, 2024
Joaquin Niemann with the Illuminati triple bunker visit on 8🧐 pic.twitter.com/BCOBFAJLFi
— Geoff (@thefantasygrind) July 19, 2024
Joaquin Niemann arrived at the Postage Stamp at -1. Tee right bunker. 2nd across green to Coffin Bunker. 3rd shot stays in. Comes out sideways and puts it in front bunker. 5 on and 3 putts later, it's a ⛄️to go from top 10 to watching cut line. Golf is hard. #TheOpen
— Chris Datres (@CDatres24) July 19, 2024
How 2019 Open Championship winner Shane Lowry got to the clubhouse at 7-under is beyond me. The weather seems to be getting more severe at Royal Troon as the afternoon wears on overseas, but regardless of which side of the draw Lowry was on, what a freaking score through 36 holes.
If Niemann could’ve just parred in and stayed in red figures, he’d have a decent chance to chase down Lowry over the weekend. Instead, he’s suddenly in danger of missing the cut. Talk about life coming at you fast.
It cracks me up, too, that there’s a Joaquin Niemann Tracker account on X dot com. Couldn’t have felt good to document the carnage at the eighth after such a promising start. Not to cackle at one’s misery, but come on, this is gold.
Great par at 7 remains -1 thru 7 🔥🔥✅
— Joaquin Niemann Tracker 🇨🇱 (@joacotracker) July 19, 2024
Green side bunker at 8 ☹️
— Joaquin Niemann Tracker 🇨🇱 (@joacotracker) July 19, 2024
Bunker to bunker 😢
— Joaquin Niemann Tracker 🇨🇱 (@joacotracker) July 19, 2024
Oh niemann
— Joaquin Niemann Tracker 🇨🇱 (@joacotracker) July 19, 2024
Looks like a 7
— Joaquin Niemann Tracker 🇨🇱 (@joacotracker) July 19, 2024
Leaves the putt 5 feet short
— Joaquin Niemann Tracker 🇨🇱 (@joacotracker) July 19, 2024
Cut watch 🚨
— Joaquin Niemann Tracker 🇨🇱 (@joacotracker) July 19, 2024
The Open X admin won’t air all eight of Niemann’s shots as of now. Cowardice!
No but seriously, it’s rough out there, y’all. This is why The Open is the best major. Totally different style of golf that most high ball-hitting ‘Mericans aren’t ready for. Totally unpredictable elements — or you could say “incalculatable” if that was an actual word. Scoring can be obnoxiously low for a major, or borderline impossible for the most of the field to get under par. Can’t get enough of it.
Joaquín Niemann just made an 8 on a par 3
Robert MacIntyre two triple bogeys through first 4 holes
Justin Thomas shot +9 on front
Only 10 guys under par
I love The Open pic.twitter.com/MNtimFek0k
— Sean Banister (@seanbanister1) July 19, 2024
