LIV Golf’s Joaquin Niemann pictured at the recent 2024 Australian Open.
William WEST/AFP/Getty Images
After being burned by Jon Rahm at the last moment to lose the LIV 2024 season title, Joaquin Niemann has battled to a big win of his own, which brings with it a ton of valuable world ranking points.
The 26-year-old Chilean LIV star survived a furious nine-under attack from fellow LIV player Cameron Smith on Sunday at the PIF Saudi International 2024, eventually edging Smith and Caleb Surrat – another LIV Golf player – to a playoff to win.
Despite the dominance of LIV professionals at the top of the leaderboard, the Saudi International is not an LIV event. Instead, it is an Asian Tour event sponsored by the Saudi PIF – financial backers of LIV Golf. The tournament is part of the International Series, a 10-tournament series that was created to give LIV players a chance to earn world ranking points and young players a chance to earn a spot at LIV.
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LIV events do not award world ranking points, which has caused its players to drop significantly in the rankings and threaten their ability to qualify for golf’s major championships. But because the International Series is sanctioned by the Asian Tour, it awards world ranking points to its competitors.
Niemann, who has two PGA Tour wins, had climbed as high as 15th in the Official World Golf Ranking in 2022, but he saw his position dip. after joining LIV in August of that year.
By December 2023, he had fallen to 87th, well outside the cut-off to qualify for the majors, then won the 2023 Australian Open to climb to 59th.
But just a month ago, Niemann’s ranking had fallen to 138th, before solid finishes at the DP World Tour Championship and the 2024 Australian Open took him to 124th going into at Saudi International.
With his win, Niemann is expected to make a massive jump in the rankings, likely inside the top 75, according to Associated Press.
Niemann’s win also gave him $1 million and the International Season Series crown. He had led LIV Golf’s pursuit of the season for most of 2024, but Rahm eventually passed him on to LIV Chicago to steal the title and his $18 million bonus.
After his win, Niemann admitted that the loss to Rahm provided motivation for his efforts this week.
“The place where I finished second in LIV, I really wanted to win it. I feel like I worked hard for it. I would say I feel like I deserve it, but you don’t deserve anything here in sports,” explained Niemann. “I know it gives me extra motivation to come and play here for this last event of the year and make something happen.”
He continued, “It’s great to have a win with the International Series standings as well. Yes, it gives me a better taste at the end of the year beating second in LIV. So I’m really happy with how it ended and I’m looking forward to the break.”
Niemann’s much-deserved break may not be as relaxing as in other years. The professional also revealed that he will be getting married on December 21 before Christmas and New Year with his family. Now they will all have a little something to celebrate during their busy holiday season.
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