Everything’s coming up Niemann at the moment. The Chilean-born LIV Golf pro is en fuego, winning two of the first three events of the 2024 season and earning a golden ticket to the Masters in the process. During his victorious post-round interview in Jeddah on Sunday, Niemann was called “one of the hottest golfers on the planet right now” and “one of the favourites to win a major championship” this year. Those claims are tough to dispute, but Niemann himself didn’t seem thrilled with the accolades, using the opportunity to once again take aim at the OWGR, which now ranks him as 76th in the world (down from 72nd last week).
No question… @joaconiemann is the hottest player in the world right now 💯#LIVGolf @TorqueGC_ pic.twitter.com/fMlv30PxRc
— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) March 3, 2024
“How is that possible,” Niemann fired back at the reporter’s compliments, “if I’m like 100 in the world?”
Between this and Talor Gooch’s recent comments about the Masters deserving an asterisk, you could start a winery with all the sour grapes being squeezed by LIV golfers as the majors approach. Unlike Gooch, however, Niemann was so motivated to play in golf’s biggest events that he paid hefty fines to retain his DP World Tour membership and played in the Australian PGA and Open championships, Dubai Desert Classic and International Series Oman in recent months, winning the Australian Open.
So is it revenge or glory driving Niemann forward, beads of sweat rolling down his face in the burning Saudi Arabian sun? From the sound of things, perhaps a little bit of both, and that’s scary news for his competitors. A golfer peaking heading into majors season is one thing. A golfer peaking heading into majors season with a chip on their shoulder is a whole other animal.
