Masters Extends Special Invitation to LIV Golf’s Joaquin Niemann
LIV Golf’s Joaquin Niemann is Augusta National-bound.
On Wednesday, Augusta National Chairman Fred Ridley announced that the Chilean has accepted a special invitation to the 2024 Masters.
Japan’s Ryo Hisatsune and Denmark’s Thornbjorn Olesen were also offered special exemptions on behalf of the tournament.
At 25 years old, Niemann has teed it up in four Masters. A winner of the 2017 Latin American Amateur Championship, Niemann has recently produced several impressive performances on tours across the globe. In December, Niemann won the prestigious Australian Open in a two-hole playoff. Additionally, he has teed it up in three DP World Tour events this season. Niemann placed in the top 5 in each of them.
On the Saudi-backed LIV Golf tour, Niemann has also seen early success in the 2024 season. He won the league’s opening event in Mayakoba after firing a historic 59 at El Camaleon Golf Course.
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Previously, Niemann was only exempt into one major championship (British Open) for the 2024 season. There is also a strong likelihood that he earns a spot in the PGA Championship, which invites the top 100 players in the world. But LIV Golf does not receive world ranking points for its events, and therefore Niemann has been steadily plummeting in the Official World Golf Rankings with his major championship status dwindling. He is currently ranked 81st in the world.
After winning LIV’s Mayakoaba event, Niemann expressed his frustration with the predicament.
“I want to win majors, but I gotta get in first,” he said.
Now Niemann will have at least two major championship opportunities locked into his schedule.
“The Masters Tournament has a long-standing tradition of inviting leading international players who are not otherwise qualified,” Ridley said in Wednesday’s announcement.
“Today’s announcement represents the Tournament’s continued commitment towards developing interest in the game of golf across the world. We look forward to welcoming each player to Augusta National this spring.”
The Masters will take place from April 11-14, and you can view the current field list here.