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.
