Anirban Lahiri led after Round 2 with a bogey-free 7-under 64 but did not win. Joaquin Niemann won the tournament, with Lahiri finishing tied for second.
It’s been a long wait for the 36‑year‑old, who has finished second four times on the breakaway tour. But this performance could be the breakthrough he’s been chasing as LIV Golf 2025 unfolds.
Lahiri’s Brilliant Round: Birdies and a 39‑Foot Putt
Lahiri’s second round at LIV Golf 2025 was close to perfect. He scored seven birdies without a single bogey, showing great control and calm under pressure. The highlight came at the 16th, where he sank an impressive 39‑foot putt to save par.
“I tried to hit an in‑between 9‑iron and it didn’t go as planned,” he said, “but getting that putt was huge.” On the 18th, he again rescued a par from the rough, more than 100 yards out. “Those felt like birdies too,” he added.
Despite a few missed chances earlier, Lahiri kept his focus. “The first 15 holes were solid. I missed a few putts, but I also made quite a few birdies.”
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Big Names Close Behind: Watson, Kaymer, and McDowell
After Round 2 Lahiri was leading at 13-under, with Watson, Kaymer, and McDowell two shots behind. The final scores were different: Niemann won at 15-under.
Watson, captain of RangeGoats GC, birdied 17 and 18 and finished with a 6‑under 65. “It’s nice to be in the mix heading into Sunday,” he said. “This course rewards strategic play.”
Kaymer, who shared the opening-round lead, shot a 4‑under 67. McDowell’s birdie streak on holes 15–17 helped him card a 5‑under 66 to stay in contention.
Joaquin Niemann, Bryson DeChambeau, and Jon Rahm—top three in the LIV Golf 2025 standings—are tied for fifth at 9‑under, only four shots off the lead.
Latest on LIV Golf 2025 Champion
Joaquin Niemann of Chile captured the title at LIV Golf Virginia with a flawless final round, firing a bogey-free 8-under 63 to finish at 15-under overall. He edged out Graeme McDowell and Anirban Lahiri by one stroke to claim the win.
This victory marks Niemann’s fourth in the first eight events of the 2025 LIV Golf season and his sixth overall, solidifying his status as the most successful player in the tour’s history.
In the team competition, Crushers GC clinched their second consecutive title, while Niemann’s commanding performance further strengthened his lead in the season-long points standings.
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