I’m forgotten star who quadrupled career earnings to $63million as LIV’s joint-most successful player

Joaquin Niemann has flown under the radar despite racking up the wins in LIV Golf. While Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Brooks Kopeka steal the headlines, the Chilean has quietly racked up an impressive haul. GettyNiemann has always fallen apart on the biggest stage[/caption] DeChambeau was one of the favorites heading into the PGA Championship alongside Masters champion Rory McIlroy and world No.1 Scottie Scheffler. But it was Niemann, who has never finished inside the top 15 in 23 major appearances, who he flagged as a potential rival. “I do believe Joaquin at some point in time will get a major,” the American said. “I think it’s just a matter of time. “Not if I have anything to say about that, but he’s an incredible golfer, won a bunch on LIV. His form is incredible. “It’s not easy to win in majors. It’s just a different elevation and feeling, and he’s young, so he’s got a lot of time.” DeChambeau is a two-time US Open champion but after winning two LIV events in 2023 he went on a two-year drought before triumphing in Korea this year. Niemann has five triumphs since the breakaway — tied for the most alongside Koepka — and all of them have come since the start of the 2024 season. His fellow pro thinks his career may end up mirroring Sergio Garcia. The Spaniard went 21 years without a major triumph before finally breaking his duck in The Masters. “There is a likeness to it,” DeChambeau said. “I think he’s a great successful player. There’s still some learning to do. GettyNiemann’s last triumph was at LIV Mexico City in April[/caption] GettyHe celebrated his triumph with wife Christina Hellema Puga[/caption] “A lot of it’s not really material. You can’t really define exactly what it is until you get in that position enough times and you’re comfortable enough and you do it. “One of them being Sergio. Sergio was so close so many times and finally won the Masters. It just happens.” Niemann was given a special invite to all four Majors in 2025 after deciding to quit the PGA Tour. The decision has paid off in a big way with the 26-year-old earning $49.6 million through three seasons — only behind Taylor Gooch ($69.5 million) and Dustin Johnson ($57 million). Niemann himself knows that while he has made a comfortable living and racked up wins in LIV, he will always be judged on the four events that dominate the calendar. “I know it’s a bigger stage,” he said after practice at Quail Hollow. “I do put some extra pressure on myself. The Open getaway Enjoy a 3-night weekend getaway with grounds admission tickets for both Saturday and Sunday of The Open 2025. Stay in comfort at the Hilton Templepatrick, with transfers included and exclusive access to the Your Golf Travel Clubhouse. All this from just £1,270 per person – don’t miss your chance to be part of golf’s biggest event in ultimate style. Plan your dream golf trip HERE. “I’m trying to find a way to feel free and just flow with my game. “I know if I can let that all go away, my game is there. I’ve just got to find that.” Two-time US Open champion Curtis Strange, who has moved into commentary, thinks Niemann needs to be back on the PGA Tour if he wants to reach the top of the game. “I think the first thing Joaquin has to do is get over [to the PGA Tour] and play more regular golf on the bigger stages against the better players in the world,” he said on a conference call with reporters. “I’m not knocking anybody, but it’s just the reality of when you’re not on that stage as often as these other players are playing the regular Tour, then you might not be as comfortable as if you were doing it on a regular basis. Certainly a wonderful player.” Niemann is just 26 years old and has plenty of time left to land a coveted trophy. And to hear Garcia tell the tale, it would be well worth the wait. “When the ball went in… I don’t know. It was just a mix of thoughts, emotions, joy, memories of the past from when I was little, great moments as a professional, bad moments as a professional, thoughts of my family, of my (then) fiance, of her family, my whole team… everything coming together all at once,” he told Today’s Golfer of his 2017 triumph. “I just started screaming. It was probably the hardest I’ve ever screamed for that long. “I ended up losing my voice for the next couple of days. But at the same time, just like on 15, to see the joy of the people, to see how happy they were, and to hear them chanting, ‘Ser-gi-o! Ser-gi-o! Ser-gi-o!’ “To hear that and feel the joy of the people, to realise how happy everybody was to see me finally come through and win a Major – win the Masters! – it was amazing. “I’m not a crier, but I had a couple tears running down my cheeks in that moment. It was very emotional. Very beautiful.”

May 15, 2025 - 18:08

I’m forgotten star who quadrupled career earnings to $63million as LIV’s joint-most successful player

Joaquin Niemann has flown under the radar despite racking up the wins in LIV Golf.

While Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Brooks Kopeka steal the headlines, the Chilean has quietly racked up an impressive haul.

Niemann has always fallen apart on the biggest stage[/caption]

DeChambeau was one of the favorites heading into the PGA Championship alongside Masters champion Rory McIlroy and world No.1 Scottie Scheffler.

But it was Niemann, who has never finished inside the top 15 in 23 major appearances, who he flagged as a potential rival.

“I do believe Joaquin at some point in time will get a major,” the American said. “I think it’s just a matter of time.

“Not if I have anything to say about that, but he’s an incredible golfer, won a bunch on LIV. His form is incredible.

“It’s not easy to win in majors. It’s just a different elevation and feeling, and he’s young, so he’s got a lot of time.”

DeChambeau is a two-time US Open champion but after winning two LIV events in 2023 he went on a two-year drought before triumphing in Korea this year.

Niemann has five triumphs since the breakaway — tied for the most alongside Koepka — and all of them have come since the start of the 2024 season.

His fellow pro thinks his career may end up mirroring Sergio Garcia.

The Spaniard went 21 years without a major triumph before finally breaking his duck in The Masters.

“There is a likeness to it,” DeChambeau said. “I think he’s a great successful player. There’s still some learning to do.

Niemann’s last triumph was at LIV Mexico City in April[/caption]

He celebrated his triumph with wife Christina Hellema Puga[/caption]

“A lot of it’s not really material. You can’t really define exactly what it is until you get in that position enough times and you’re comfortable enough and you do it.

“One of them being Sergio. Sergio was so close so many times and finally won the Masters. It just happens.”

Niemann was given a special invite to all four Majors in 2025 after deciding to quit the PGA Tour.

The decision has paid off in a big way with the 26-year-old earning $49.6 million through three seasons — only behind Taylor Gooch ($69.5 million) and Dustin Johnson ($57 million).

Niemann himself knows that while he has made a comfortable living and racked up wins in LIV, he will always be judged on the four events that dominate the calendar.

“I know it’s a bigger stage,” he said after practice at Quail Hollow. “I do put some extra pressure on myself.

The Open getaway

Enjoy a 3-night weekend getaway with grounds admission tickets for both Saturday and Sunday of The Open 2025.

Stay in comfort at the Hilton Templepatrick, with transfers included and exclusive access to the Your Golf Travel Clubhouse.

All this from just £1,270 per person – don’t miss your chance to be part of golf’s biggest event in ultimate style.

Plan your dream golf trip HERE.

“I’m trying to find a way to feel free and just flow with my game.

“I know if I can let that all go away, my game is there. I’ve just got to find that.”

Two-time US Open champion Curtis Strange, who has moved into commentary, thinks Niemann needs to be back on the PGA Tour if he wants to reach the top of the game.

“I think the first thing Joaquin has to do is get over [to the PGA Tour] and play more regular golf on the bigger stages against the better players in the world,” he said on a conference call with reporters.

“I’m not knocking anybody, but it’s just the reality of when you’re not on that stage as often as these other players are playing the regular Tour, then you might not be as comfortable as if you were doing it on a regular basis. Certainly a wonderful player.”

Niemann is just 26 years old and has plenty of time left to land a coveted trophy.

And to hear Garcia tell the tale, it would be well worth the wait.

“When the ball went in… I don’t know. It was just a mix of thoughts, emotions, joy, memories of the past from when I was little, great moments as a professional, bad moments as a professional, thoughts of my family, of my (then) fiance, of her family, my whole team… everything coming together all at once,” he told Today’s Golfer of his 2017 triumph.

“I just started screaming. It was probably the hardest I’ve ever screamed for that long.

“I ended up losing my voice for the next couple of days. But at the same time, just like on 15, to see the joy of the people, to see how happy they were, and to hear them chanting, ‘Ser-gi-o! Ser-gi-o! Ser-gi-o!’

“To hear that and feel the joy of the people, to realise how happy everybody was to see me finally come through and win a Major – win the Masters! – it was amazing.

“I’m not a crier, but I had a couple tears running down my cheeks in that moment. It was very emotional. Very beautiful.”