‘I Think It Will Happen’ – Joaquin Niemann ‘Hopeful’ Of LIV Golf Major Route

Joaquin Niemann, the current points leader in LIV Golf, is optimistic that the tour will establish its own route into the four men’s Majors by next year. He believes that the top 10 players in the LIV Golf standings should automatically qualify for these prestigious tournaments.

At present, LIV Golf players face significant challenges in qualifying for the Majors. Even Talor Gooch, the 2023 LIV Golf champion, managed to play in just one Major this year—the PGA Championship—through a special invitation. Niemann himself played in three Majors this year. He received invitations to The Masters and the PGA Championship, and he qualified for The Open by winning the 2023 Australian Open. However, he did not make it into the US Open field.

Niemann expressed his belief that including LIV Golf players in the Majors would be beneficial for the sport. “I believe that it’s going to happen. I feel like they’ve got to pull for the best of the game,” he said. He suggested that allocating spots for the top 10 LIV Golf players would enhance the competitiveness of the Majors. “There’s definitely 10 guys here that could win Majors, and they can definitely give those 10 spots for us and have more competitive Majors,” he added.

Despite the current challenges, Niemann remains optimistic about his chances of qualifying for the Majors through various pathways. “I feel like I’m going to find a way to be in the Majors,” he said, adding that he is not frustrated by the situation. He is hopeful that changes will be made for next season, allowing LIV Golf players more opportunities to compete in these tournaments. “I hope so. I’m pretty optimistic. I think it will happen. I was the same way last year. I felt like we were going to do something for this year. It didn’t happen, but I found a way to get into it. I got some invitations, which was nice. I feel more optimistic for next season.”

Niemann is planning to compete on the DP World Tour at the end of the season to accumulate world ranking points and secure his place in the Majors. He is currently ranked as high as 13th in the Race to Dubai standings, thanks to his Australian Open victory and a runner-up finish at the Dubai Desert Classic in January. He is also eyeing open spots at the Australian Open and other events, as well as aiming to be in the top 50 in the world rankings by the end of the year to qualify for The Masters.

“If I can go and they let me play, I will definitely try to go,” Niemann said about competing on the DP World Tour. He emphasized that his primary motivation for participating in these events is to qualify for the Majors. “If I’m able to go and play on DP World, it’s because of the Majors and to try to get my way in,” he explained. “If I’m free to go and play the DP World, I might go and play because I’m pretty high in the rankings. If they let me do it, I’ll try.”

Before his efforts to qualify for the Majors, Niemann will be competing in the LIV Golf League at JCB Golf and Country Club this week, followed by the men’s Olympic golf tournament at Le Golf National next week. Niemann expressed his enthusiasm for the Olympics, stating that playing for a gold medal is a special and emotional experience. “I feel like it’s one of the events you play every four years, and having a gold medal on your chest is something really special and emotional,” he said. Despite it being his fourth consecutive week of competition, he is determined to give his best performance at the Olympics.

“I feel like it does give you that little extra,” he said. “For me, it would be the fourth week in a row going to the Olympics, but I’ll feel pretty fresh and new because we are going to play every four years. I’m going to try to do my best there and hopefully get a good prize on Sunday.”

In summary, Niemann remains hopeful and proactive about securing LIV Golf’s place in the Majors while continuing to pursue his personal goal of competing at the highest level in the sport.