SAINT-QUENTIN YVELINES, France — Joaquin Niemann has been LIV Golf’s best player this year, at least based on season-long standings, and he’s simultaneously a source of pride and frustration for the team.
Niemann, who is only 25 but has already won two LIV golf events and played in three major championships, didn't mince words when asked if his achievements in the controversial league reflected the bigger picture of the game as a whole.
“I don't think it's fair,” the Chilean golfer said Thursday after shooting a 5-under 66 in the opening round of the Olympic Golf Championship at the National Golf Club.
It’s a belief Niemann has held onto since his first win of the season at LIV’s Mayakoba event in February, and he said the Masters and PGA recognized his outstanding play outside of LIV golf by granting him a spot in this year’s event.
Niemann's good start is significant, and not just because he is proud to represent Chile at the Olympics. Winning here means he will automatically qualify for the four major championships in 2025.
He acknowledged that fact but tried to downplay it after falling three shots behind first-round leader Hideki Matsuyama.
“Obviously, I’m trying to win, and whatever happens after that is up to me,” Niemann said. “I’m just here to have a good week, enjoy it, and then we’ll see what happens next.
“I would have had the same focus without those four major (exemptions) wins. I would have had the same drive to win. I feel like this is the Olympics and I should be more focused on winning medals than winning majors.”
One accompanies the other.
He is one of seven LIV golfers participating in the tournament, along with Chilean teammate Mito Pereira, Spaniards Jon Rahm and David Puig, Polish player Adrian Meronk and Mexican players Carlos Ortiz and Abraham Ancer.
Only Rahm is exempt from all Grand Slam events next year. Ortiz expressed disappointment with the ranking points on Tuesday, but he also got off to a good start in the first round.
Niemann admitted he felt proud to represent his country at the Olympics after competing in the 2021 Games in Japan, but the atmosphere was subdued as fans were unable to attend the games due to coronavirus restrictions.
The audience on the opening day was very enthusiastic and Niemann enjoyed the atmosphere.
“It does feel a little different,” Niemann said. “I grew up representing my country and wearing these colors and having the flag by my side. So it feels like going back to the days when I was able to play for my country and my teammates. It feels like a throwback to that time. This is more special than any other golf tournament.”
With two individual events left on the LIV schedule, Niemann's lead in the LIV points race is slightly smaller than Jon Rahm's, who won the British Open on Sunday. He trails by 24 points, while the tournament winner gets 40 points.
Niemann tied for second in that tournament and continued his strong run at LIV Golf, posting nine top-10 finishes in 11 starts.
He is undoubtedly disappointed that he didn't have better performances in the majors, where a high score in any one of them would mean he could return to the majors in 2025. He tied for 22nd at the Masters, tied for 39th at the PGA Championship and tied for 58th at the British Open two weeks ago.
Niemann tried to qualify for the U.S. Open but missed out. He won the Australian Open in December to qualify for the U.S. Open, a victory that caught the attention of the Masters, which offered him a special exemption. The PGA of America also gave Niemann an exemption.
The Australian Open victory is part of Niemann’s overall attempt to earn Official World Golf Ranking points outside of LIV Golf. After the LIV season ended last year, Niemann finished fifth at the Australian PGA Championship and won the Australian Open, which earned him membership on the DP World Tour.
He took full advantage of that, finishing fourth at the Dubai Desert Classic in January and then third at the Oman International Series.
After Dubai, Niemann climbed to 64th in the world rankings, but he has played only four ranking tournaments since then, with limited results, and his ranking has dropped to 110th. At the end of this year, the top 50 players in the world will be guaranteed a spot in the Masters.
“I feel like that’s my job, I feel like there’s a little bit of a crisis right now, something’s got to be resolved,” Niemann said, referring to the impasse in negotiations between the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which backs LIV Golf. “I’m just going to play another week of golf and try to get to the majors, and that’s what I did last year.”
He’s not sure what that means once the LIV season ends next month.
“I would love to play some DP World Tour events. I don’t know if I’ll be allowed to play, but yes, I would love to play some tournaments,” Niemann said. “If I can get some world rankings and see if I can qualify for the Grand Slams, yes.”
Niemann could face a fine and suspension before he can play any DP World Tour events, but the situation is fixable. Rahm faces the same problem in trying to play enough DP World Tour events to qualify for the Ryder Cup.
For now, Niemann will focus on his golf game, which he had an eagle, four birdies and a bogey in his first round.
“It was a good start,” Niemann said. “I played pretty solid all day. My problem was two tee shots on the last two holes, but other than that it was a good day. Gave myself a lot of chances, hit good iron shots. Good day.”