Joaquín Niemann has aired his dissatisfaction with the Official World Golf Ranking since moving to LIV Golf, but the Chilean has been offered an invitation to the Masters.
Joaquin Niemann finally got his way as the LIV Golf star was awarded a spot in this year’s Masters despite falling down the rankings in the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR).
Niemann has declared himself one of golf’s most in-form stars in recent months, but is not reflected in the world rankings due to his move to LIV Golf. His breakaway league has not yet been recognized by the OWGR, so some of its biggest names are on the ranking list.
Before moving to LIV in September 2022, Niemann was in the top 20 in the world due to his breakthrough on the PGA Tour, but he has fallen outside the top 80 in the past year and a half.
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Aiming to qualify for this year’s Masters, the Chilean has focused on the PGA Tour of Australia and DP World Tour over the past two months, winning the Australian Open last December and winning the 2018 Dubai Desert. – Finished in the top five in the Classic. January. Ahead of his trip to Dubai, Neiman aired his frustrations with the ranking system in an interview. mirror sport.
“What the world rankings show is quite unfair at the moment. They list the top 100 players in the world at the moment, but I don’t think this is the correct ranking,” the Torque GC captain said the week before the tie. admitted. Finished 4th at Emirates Golf Club. “I’m going to Dubai for DP World” [Tour] just because [ranking] Earn points and aim to participate in the Masters.
“The majors are all about the best players in the world, and I think it’s their job to find a way to have the best players there. It’s all about the best players right now, and I think I’m one of them right now.” Obviously, I made the decision to come to LIV, but I knew it would be difficult to get into the majors because of it.
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“But I think now they have to find a way to get us involved. That’s why I’m trying to get into more tournaments, not just LIV Golf.”
Although he made a good impression on his return to the DP World Tour, he failed to break into the top 50 and it appeared that was not enough to secure a spot at Augusta National.
But Niemann now has no need to worry, having received a special invitation waiver from tournament organizers to play in this year’s opening major.
Fred Ridley, president of Augusta National Golf Club, approved the invitation and said in a statement: “The Masters Tournament has a long-standing tradition of inviting talented international players who are otherwise ineligible.
“Today’s announcement represents the tournament’s continued commitment to increasing interest in the game of golf around the world. We look forward to welcoming each player to Augusta National this spring.”