Ryan Lavner suggests what he finds to be a ‘real head-scratcher’ about Joaquin Niemann after his win at LIV Golf Mexico City

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Joaquin Niemann extended his lead at the top of the LIV Golf standings at the start of the 2025 season, with the Chilean winning the latest event in Mexico City on Sunday.

Joaquin Niemann went into the final round of LIV Golf Mexico City three shots back of Bryson DeChambeau. However, while DeChambeau faltered on the last day for the third tournament in a row, Niemann managed to put his foot on the accelerator.

The 26-year-old made seven birdies and just one bogey at Club de Golf Chapultepec to win by three. It is his third victory of the year following his triumph in Adelaide and Singapore.

The result ensures that Niemann will earn a spot in the US Open.

The head-scratcher concerning Joaquin Niemann after his win at LIV Golf Mexico City

Niemann was one of the players many were looking out for at The Masters earlier this month. He went into the first major of the year with more momentum than anyone else not named Rory McIlroy. And plenty expected Niemann to play well at Augusta National.

However, he failed to build on a bright start on Thursday. Niemann failed to break 70 all week and finished in a tie for 29th.

And speaking on the Golf Channel Podcast, Ryan Lavner admitted that he is almost baffled by Niemann’s record in the four biggest events of the year across his career.

“Joaquin Niemann’s a very interesting one. He has five LIV wins now, three this season, by far the most of any player. He’s already clinched the US Open LIV exemption, that very narrow pathway that the USGA had opened into the US Open, with one event still to play – he’s already clinched that US Open berth. But Joaquin Niemann in the only event that he has played this year against all of the best players in the world, not just the closed shop that is LIV Golf finished in a tie for 29th. It all feels meaningless what he’s accomplishing if he’s not beating the best players in the world and sort of thrusting himself in the next level at that stage,” he said.

“I know it’s limited opportunities he’s going to have, just four times a year, but he’s continually failed to show up in the events that matter most, particularly for LIV Golf players who are not seeing other competition week-in and week-out.

“He’s so good, he’s so talented, he has so many shots, the creativity. He’s a fun watch, but having zero top 10s in major championships throughout his career when he’s now in his mid-20s is just a real head-scratcher for me, so I hope he does figure it out because he’s such a fun player to watch.”

Joaquin Niemann’s major championship record

There is absolutely no question at all that Niemann’s major record is underwhelming, given that he is outshining so many outstanding players on LIV – many of whom have indeed won major titles.

Some of the early performances can perhaps be forgiven. He made his first appearance in the US Open as a teenager. And he has shown signs of improvement, with just two missed cuts in his last 17 major appearances.

However, it is alarming that he has never finished inside the top 10. In fact, his last top 20 finish came at the 2023 Masters.

He will be aware that LIV’s critics will point at Niemann’s record as proof that the league is not good enough. Clearly, he has no issues winning on LIV.

It feels particularly important, for both Niemann and LIV, that that wait for a top 10 in a major ends very soon.