Joaquin Niemann continued his activities this winter, during the break of the LIV circuit, and obtained something that cannot be bought. He is among a handful of golfers who received a special invitation Wednesday to compete in the next Masters Tournament.
The Augusta National club also invited 21-year-old golfer Ryo Hisatsune, the first Japanese to earn the European Tour Most Outstanding Rookie title, and Dane Thorbjorn Olesen.
Nieman said after triumphing in the season-opener on the LIV Tour in Mexico that he wants to “win major tournaments”, before adding that he needs to be invited first. He had tumbled outside the top 50 world since the LIV circuit does not obtain world ranking points.
The Masters Tournament will take place from April 11 to 14.
Niemann was the only golfer on the LIV Tour, which is financed by Saudi interests, to receive an invitation. This was probably granted because of his victory at the Australian Open and his desire to play tournaments that are not organized by the LIV circuit, in the hope of obtaining valuable ranking points.
The Augusta National club did not offer an invitation to Talor Gooch, who has won three LIV circuit tournaments since the presentation of the last Masters Tournament.
The Masters Tournament has issued special invitations for the 15e time since 1999 — it was the first time he did so based on the world rankings, in particular. The last time three special invitations were issued in one fell swoop was in 2008, when India’s Jeev Milkha Singh, Thailand’s Prayad Marksaeng and China’s Liang Wen-Chong received the honor.
For now, the field will be made up of 83 golfers. Excluded golfers who still hope to play in the Masters Tournament will have to win one of the seven PGA Tour tournaments that will be presented between now and then, or sneak into the top 50 world when updating the ranking of 1er april.