Joaquin Niemann wins LIV Golf Mayakoba, defeating Sergio Garcia in a thrilling four-hole playoff to kick off LIV’s 2024 season.
However, despite the win, Niemann dropped from 66th to 74th in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR).
Meanwhile, on the PGA Tour, Windham Clark set a record with a 12-under 60 to win at Pebble Beach. As a result, Clark rose from 10th to 6th place in the world.
The reigning U.S. Open champion will be playing in the majors this season, but for now, Niemann is looking from the outside in.
“I want to win a major,” Niemann said immediately after defeating Garcia. “But I have to get on first.”
Without a doubt, Niemann has the talent to not only play in a major championship, but win one. Last year, he tied for 16th at the Masters and tied for 32nd at the U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club. However, he missed out on Oak Hill and Royal Liverpool.
The PGA of America typically invites all players ranked in the top 100 of the OWGR, and Niemann received a special invitation, which is why he played in the PGA Championship last year. However, if his ranking continues to fall and he falls out of the top 100, Neiman will not be able to try again at Valhalla in May.
As for the Open, Nieman was ranked within the top 50 of OWGR heading into Hoylake. That’s no longer the case.
And at last year’s U.S. Open, Niemann qualified for the 2022 Tour Championship, so he qualified. He then transferred to LIV and therefore did not participate in last year’s Tour Championship at East Lake.
Other eligibility criteria for the U.S. Open include ranking in the top 60 of the OWGR.
The Masters, on the other hand, is the smallest of the majors and is much more difficult to break into. The top 50 OWGR players at the end of 2023 and those who finish in the top 50 in the weeks leading up to the 2024 Masters will receive invitations.
Neither was the case for Niemann, who posted an impressive 12-under 59 in Friday’s opening round at LIV Golf Mayakoba.
He has the talent to play in the majors. This leaves readers wondering whether Niemann, and by extension LIV golfers, should receive special exemptions to the four majors.
Let us know in the comments below or at: _@PlayingThrough on all social platforms.
Jack Mirko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through.Be sure to check it out @_PlayingThrough Cover more golf. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko In the same way.
