Joaquin Niemann has established a commanding five-shot lead after the second round of LIV Golf New York at Trump National Bedminster, maintaining his status as the only player in the field without a single bogey.

Niemann, captain of Torque GC, shot a bogey-free 7-under 64 in the opening round, followed by a 65 on Friday, bringing his total to 13-under par. This performance has also propelled Torque GC to a five-shot lead in the team competition.

Lee Westwood, captain of the Majesticks GC, is Niemann's closest individual challenger at 8-under par after matching Niemann's second-round 65. Sergio Garcia, captain of Fireballs GC, is another stroke back at 7-under par following his own 65.

Both Westwood and Garcia acknowledged the difficulty of catching Niemann if he continues his strong play, particularly his consistent 5-under par front nines in the first two rounds. Westwood, the oldest captain in the field at 53, expressed that while Niemann is a world-class player capable of running away with a tournament, human elements like pressure and mistakes can still come into play.

Garcia noted that if Niemann maintains his scoring pace, catching him will be a significant challenge. Garcia has faced similar deficits before, including a playoff loss to Niemann in the 2024 season opener at Mayakoba after trailing by six shots through 54 holes. He expressed hope for a similar playoff scenario on Sunday.

Niemann, 27, is seeking his second win in his last four LIV Golf starts. He indicated that he focuses on evolving as a player rather than replicating past successes, stating, "I feel like I’m a better player now. I feel like I have matured a lot more and whenever time goes on, there’s always something to learn."

In the season-long individual championship race, two-time defending champion Jon Rahm of Legion XIII is tied for 27th at 1-over par. He holds a seven-stroke advantage over Bryson DeChambeau, captain of Crushers GC, who is in 50th place at 8-over par. Rahm is projected to secure his third consecutive season title unless DeChambeau significantly closes the points gap in the upcoming events.

Richard Bland, also 53, recorded the lowest round of the day with a bogey-free 7-under 64, matching his season best relative to par. He is tied for sixth place entering the weekend. Other notable performances include Tom McKibbin and Harold Varner tied for fourth at 6-under, and Lucas Herbert and Paul Casey among those tied for sixth at 5-under.