Joaquin Niemann has expressed his hopes for a PGA Tour policy change by 2025 that might pave the way for LIV Golf players to participate in major tournaments.
At 25, budding golfer Niemann boasts two victories on the PGA Tour. His transition to the controversial LIV Golf league, backed by Saudi Arabian wealth, in 2022 saw his suspension from the PGA. Nonetheless, he's thrived among LIV Golf's elite and has raked in a staggering £11m ($14.2m) in prize money for 2024 alone.
Initially barred from the PGA Tour following his switch of allegiance, Niemann still managed to score special exemptions allowing him entry into prestigious competitions such as the Masters and the PGA Championship, in addition to having a shot at qualifying for both the US and Open championships.
Despite missing out on automatic qualification for the 2024 US Open, Niemann had success securing his spot in all other majors. The Chilean golfer remains optimistic about easing the path to qualifying for major championships, as talks of detente between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour loom on the horizon.
He optimistically shared: "I believe that it's going to happen. I feel like they've got to pull for the best of the game, and I think that's the right way to do it, hopefully give us some spots out here on LIV and have the best players in there."
The challenge for LIV golfers remains significant, as they are not beneficiaries of automatic entries into majors due to LIV Golf's exclusion from the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR). Their absence from the OWGR is attributed to LIV's failure to satisfy the body's stipulated competitive criteria.
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LIV Golf's withdrawal of its application to the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) in March has sparked controversy, with players unable to climb the world rankings unless they participate in DP World Tour events, the Asian Tour, or other tours. This move also renders LIV's non-exempt players ineligible for major tournaments, a point of contention for Niemann.
"Yeah, it's frustrating, but in the end, I feel like I'm pulling hard for LIV Golf to improve, and I think [expanded major championship eligibility] would be one of the ways that the game and LIV would improve," Niemann stated. "From my side personally, I feel like I'm going to find a way to be in the majors, so it doesn't frustrate me or put me out."
Niemann, who has been actively participating in global tournaments in Oman, Dubai, and Australia alongside his LIV commitments, supports the idea of automatic exemptions for LIV players in major championships. He suggests that around 10 players from LIV should be granted this privilege.
He elaborated: "I would say top 10 guys. There's definitely 10 guys here that could win majors. Yeah, they can definitely give those 10 spots for us and have more competitive majors."
