Torque captain Joaquin Niemann has a great deal on his mind heading into this week's LIV Golf Chicago.
He not only brings good momentum to Bolingbrook Golf Club, where he and Legion XIII captain Jon Rahm will compete for the season-long Individual Championship and its $18-million bonus but he is also hungry for Torque GC to celebrate its first team victory in 2024.
Last year, the Spanish-speaking combination won a league-best four titles but this season they are yet to taste collective success despite a string of close calls. They currently sit fifth in the season-long standings after finishing in the top six or better 11 times in their 12 LIV Golf starts.
"It is a little bit frustrating that we have not yet won a team title this year," Niemann said ahead of Friday's opening round at Bolingbrook. "But, at the same time, it is motivating knowing that there is one big tournament at the end of the season and that is the one that matters."
Over the next few days, Torque will be vying with Ripper GC and Smash GC for the third and final bye for next week's season-ending Team Championship, to be played at Maridoe Golf Club in Texas.
"My team is looking pretty solid," said Niemann. "I like our setup. We are still two weeks from the end and we still can make something happen. I feel like Dallas is the main week and we've got to play good. It's tough to come along with four good scorecards on a Sunday and have a good start ... but I feel like we still have a great chance on Sunday in Dallas if we make it through, so I am looking forward to that.
"There's a lot at stake this week to get that bye but if not, there's still also a big chance for us to win. There's a lot of golf to play and for us, it's a good way to prepare ourselves and try to improve. I'm pretty excited to see what's going to happen."
Niemann, meanwhile, is perfectly placed to end his personal season with a big bang - if he can beat Rahm in what is effectively a head-to-head matchup for the 2024 LIV Golf Individual Championship. Spaniard Rahm currently leads Niemann by the slender margin of 2.97 points, having finally overtaken the Chilean in the standings at the most recent event - LIV Golf Greenbrier.
"I'm just three points behind and that's only probably one shot," said Niemann, who had led the Individual Championship race throughout the year after clinching the season-opening LIV Golf Mayakoba in a play-off before winning in Jeddah by four strokes just two tournaments later.
"It just reminds you how important it is to stay present, to focus and give all your 100% on every shot because you never know how it could finish."
Niemann conceded that he would be feeling some extra pressure this week.
"It was obviously a big goal for the season this week," he smiled. "One of my goals was to win the season-long title and it's all come down to the last week. There's a little extra pressure, which I feel like is nice. It's part of the sport and being competitive. It fuels me in a good way to get better, to work harder and to be more ready for that position."
However this week at Bolingbrook pans out, Niemann will be able to reflect on a massively successful 2024 season, which included a spectacular 12-under 59 in the opening round at Mayakoba.
"It's been pretty good," said the 25-year-old from Santiago. "The start of the season, the first half, I would say, 'Yeah, I played amazing, winning two tournaments at the start'. Then the last part, I haven't been the best but I feel like it's getting there. To be in this position for the last tournament is pretty special."
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