Joaquin Niemann doesn’t just think he can play in majors. He believes he can win them. Niemann’s problem is that his switch to LIV Golf and subsequent world ranking decline means he faces a battle to feature at all in golf’s four prime events.
Niemann was a top 20 player in the world when he left the PGA Tour for golf’s rebel circuit, which is not recognised by the sport’s ranking system. Niemann slipped to 87th before being invited to play two events in Australia in December. He won the second of them, the Australian Open, which earned him an invite to the Dubai Desert Classic. The 25-year-old makes no secret of the fact he is here at the Emirates Club trying to break into the world’s top 50, which would provide a spot at Augusta National in April. Niemann has joined the DP World Tour with major pursuit in mind.
“Obviously my goal is to get to the Masters,” Niemann said after opening in Dubai with a three under par 69. “I’m one of a few of the players on LIV that don’t have a spot in the majors. I know I want to be there. I know I want to play in those four events and I know if I play there, I have a chance to win. My goal for now is to get there.”
Niemann’s confidence is not quite borne out by results. His best major finish is a tie for 16th in last year’s Masters. Nonetheless, the Chilean was viewed as a rising star of world golf before opting to join LIV. To Niemann’s credit, he refuses to cry foul over the ranking regulations which have left him in this position. He is perfectly accepting of his scenario.
“It’s not frustrating for me, it’s just nothing to do with me,” Niemann added. “I obviously took the decision to join LIV and I knew it was going to happen. There was going to be no ranking. I think I deserve to be in the majors. Obviously world ranking does not show that but I think if I had to play every week with world rankings, I am going to be in the majors. But it is what it is and that’s why I’m here.”
Niemann sits two from the early leads claimed by Li Haotong, Andy Sullivan, Cameron Young and Rasmus Hojgaard. Haotong’s prominence is interesting; he missed 18 cuts in 22 starts during 2023. Adrian Meronk and Thorbjorn Olesen both reached five under but bogeyed their final holes.
Rory McIlroy reached the turn in four under par and already looked on course for a successful Desert Classic defence. Three dropped shots in the Northern Irishman’s closing four holes meant he had to accept a one-under-par 71. McIlroy’s woes began with a three-putt bogey at the 6th, his 15th. Brian Harman, the Open champion, matched McIlroy’s score. Adam Scott is three under.
