LIV Golf’s Joaquin Niemann gets into a swift exchange of words with reporter about the Olympics’ ‘unfair’ qualification criteria
Joaquin Niemann is proud to be representing Chile at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The 25-year-old golfer stated that it feels ‘more special than any other golf tournament.’ However, he isn’t fully pleased with the Olympics golf’s qualification criteria.
Niemann, speaking in a press conference after Round 1 of Olympics golf at Le Golf National, noted that the current entry criteria to the competition is ‘not fair.’ Interestingly, the LIV golfer got into a swift one-to-one exchange with a reporter while making the point.
Niemann at first tried to avoid a query on the Games’ entry criteria by stating that it was ‘not on him’ to make the call. However, he soon got lured in. Following a quick exchange with the reporter at the presser, the former PGA Tour star stated that the Olympics currently “don't have the best players” competing.
This is how Joaquin Niemann's exchange with the reporter went on Thursday (August 1), as quoted by ASAP Sports:
Q. Do you think they have to look at the entry criteria for the Olympics next time given the World Ranking?
Niemann: That's not on me.
Q. What do you think?
Niemann: They will find a way.
Q. Do you think it's fair the way it is?
Niemann: No.
Q. Why?
Niemann: You tell me. I don't think it's fair.
Q. In what respect?
Niemann: Because you don't have the best players right now, I feel like.
Q. Here?
Niemann: Yeah.
The two-time LIV Golf winner opined that ‘there’s a little bit of a crisis’ regarding the current ranking system, which needs ‘fixing.’ The World No. 114 golfer stated that he is simply trying to earn his way into the Majors by playing any event possible like he did last year.
Joaquin Niemann demands policy change to allow LIV golfers on Majors
Joaquin Niemann’s comments on the Olympics eligibility criteria comes just days after the golfer revealed his wish for a policy change to let LIV golfers compete in Major championships. The golfer, who joined the Saudi-backed series in 2022, dubbed his series’ exclusion from the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) as ‘frustrating.’
Despite noting that he ‘finds a way to be in the Majors,’ he stated that entry to competitions like the Masters and the US Open were important to ‘improve’ LIV.
Speaking about LIV Golf’s Majors qualification situation, Joaquin Niemann said ahead of the Olympics, as quoted by the Daily Express:
“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. 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.”
Interestingly, Niemann also offered an optimistic solution for the Major qualification problem. The former PGA Tour star noted that the officials reserve 10 spots on the Major competitions’ rosters for LIV golfers. He opined that at least the “top 10 guys” on the Saudi-backed circuit “could win Majors.”