When it comes to LIV Golf’s biggest success story, there is no question at all that Joaquin Niemann has been an absolute revelation since leaving the PGA Tour.
Joaquin Niemann was a winner on the PGA Tour before leaving to join LIV Golf in 2022. Nevertheless, it is surely fair to say that he has taken his game to a completely different level in the last three years.
No player has won more times on LIV than Niemann, with his victory at LIV Golf UK this past week proving to be his seventh win. He has, of course, won five times this year.
Of course, a lot of the debate surrounding Niemann right now concerns his inability to take his form on LIV into the majors. He has one top 10 in 26 starts in the four biggest events of the year. The 26-year-old also missed the cut at the US Open and The Open Championship in 2025.
The concerning trend in Joaquin Niemann’s results on LIV Golf this year
What has been particularly baffling is that Niemann has followed three of the four majors this year by winning the very next LIV event. It was suggested that Niemann still winning at JCB was a worst case scenario for LIV given his Open performance as well as the fact that he has just parted ways with his coach and caddie.
It is not the best look to have their dominant player make such a small impression in the majors. But perhaps Niemann does still have a point to prove on LIV Golf.
Speaking on the Golf Channel Podcast, Ryan Lavner claimed that there is a concerning trend in Niemann’s results on LIV, despite his victories.
“I will say as it relates to the LIV venues, they’re certainly stronger on the whole across the 14 sites than they were when they first launched in 2022 and 2023. I think when you dive deeper though into those numbers – and again, he’s won five of the last 11 events – what is notable is what Joaquin Niemann is not playing his best when LIV is at some of their most difficult venues,” he said.
“You look at Doral, the Miami stop, Joaquin Niemann tied for 33rd. Joaquin Niemann tied for 20th in South Korea on the golf course that hosted the Presidents Cup in 2015. He tied for 23rd at Maridoe, remember in Dallas, those really difficult conditions, single digit winning score. It was windy, it was hot, it was firm, it was fast. T23 for Joaquin Niemann there. And then the week prior to The Open Championship at Valderrama, former Ryder Cup site, tied for 23rd. So again, those are really poor results at notable venues, heralded venues, when a player otherwise appears to be dominant.
“If you’re going to have a winning score between 14 and 20 under par, Joaquin Niemann has proven at this point in his LIV career that he’s probably going to be the favourite for that tournament. But if it’s going to be demanding, if it’s going to be exacting, if it’s going to be tight, if it’s going to be firm and fast, maybe there’s some tighter corridors, or speed control on the greens is going to be of the utmost importance, Joaquin Niemann is not that dude yet.”
LIV Golf hierarchy should be looking to make changes urgently
Those at LIV Golf cannot be entirely happy with how their players are faring in the majors. Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau are the only players to have won a major after joining LIV.
Meanwhile, no player has managed to win their first major title after signing with LIV, with Tyrrell Hatton and Carlos Ortiz coming reasonably close at the US Open at Oakmont.
Of course, there are only four majors a year. So there was always likely to be fewer LIV wins because they simply do not have the same amount of representation at each event.
But when you look at DeChambeau’s nightmare opening round at Royal Portrush, or Jon Rahm’s largely forgettable years in the majors, or Cameron Smith missing all four major cuts in 2025, it is hard to argue with those who question whether playing on LIV is helping the world’s best when the margins are so small on the biggest stages.
If that trend continues, there are going to be plenty of players who decide against signing for LIV Golf in the future simply because they are worried about what it may mean for their hopes of contending in the majors.
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