The Genesis Invitation is the first wire-to-wire winner in 53 years and it was won by Joaquin Niemann. (0:49)
Every day at Riviera, the scoring record was set by Joaquin Niemann. Tiger Woods gave him the trophy after he beat the best field in golf.
It was more than enough.
It was the first wire-to-wire win on the tour in 53 years, and it was done by a golfer who overcame a few anxious moments and closed with an even-par 71.
The top 10 players in the world started the week. It ended with a young man from Santiago playing his best golf in a 63-63 start and doing just enough in the final round to win.
I think it is the toughest tournament of the year. The best players are here and that shows me that I can compete with the top guys, I can be up there in the world ranking.
The margin was down to one when Young made a bogey on the eighth hole and Niemann made a 7 footer on the ninth. He was on his way after chipping in for an eagle on the 11th.
He said that No. 8 was a big shot. It was over the green. I knew it was my chance to come back stronger, and I started playing the next holes better.
On a day when two of the best players in the world said they were staying put on the PGA Tour, Niemann spoke of a value worth more than just money.
Everyone is here to compete against the best players in the world. He said that winning a PGA Tour event, getting a trophy, having Tiger there, and all the history behind it, is nothing that can compete with this.
The chance to break the oldest tournament scoring record on the PGA Tour was missed by Niemann. Lanny Watkins had a score of 19-under that was 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465.
On the 10th hole, he holed an eagle chip that one-hopped into the cup, and two late birdies gave him a chance. He missed a 10-footer on the 18th that would have given him the win and the top spot in the world. He had a 66.
Young was a runner-up for the second time this season. He was second in Mississippi. He was unable to make up the deficit as he faced Niemann over the final 36 holes.
Young said that he was happy with the week, even though he finished tied for second at Riviera.
Young earned over a million dollars for his second place finish in the tournament hosted by Tiger Woods. The purse was over $12 million.
Since 1962, the tournament has only had a young winner in Phil Rodgers, who was 23 at the time. He earned $33.33 that year.
He picked up over $2 million for his second victory.
The last player to go wire-to-wire in a tournament that attracted everyone from the top 10 in the world this week was Charlie Sifford in 1969 and he was granted an exemption in his name to promote diversity in golf.
Sifford, the first black golfer to win on the PGA Tour, was born 100 years ago. The first hole was occupied by the No. 100.
He carved his own way around the course. The most important shot was at No. 8. The eagle gave him plenty of breathing room.
Young had a bogey on the 10th when his flip wedge from short of the green failed to clear a Bunker. He missed the par putt and slammed his bag with a putter as he left the green.
He had a chance. Young was able to get out to the fairway on the 15th after driving into a Bunker, but he was unable to make a putt on the 16th. The lead was down to two with three holes to play after Niemann missed a par putt.
Young found a hole on the 16th for the second day in a row. He failed to get up and down because it wasn't plugged like it was on Saturday. He needed some help after making a par-5 17th to get back in the game. He split the middle of the fairway, hitting to the back level of the green and two-putting for par from just inside 30 feet.
On the 18th, his friends formed a big group hug, and then the celebration was on.
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