LIV star has last laugh after 'unfair' ranking snub threatened Masters dream
Joaquin Niemann has finally got his way, after the LIV Golf star was offered a place at this year's Masters despite his fall in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR).
Niemann has announced himself as one of golf's most in-form stars in recent months, but this has not been reflected in his world ranking on the back of his move to LIV Golf. The breakaway league is yet to receive recognition from OWGR, which has led to some of its biggest names falling in the ranking list.
Prior to his move to LIV in September 2022, Niemann's breakthrough on the PGA Tour saw him inside the top 20 in the world, but a year-and-a-half on he has drifted outside the top 80.
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In a bid to make this year's Masters, the Chilean turned his attention to the PGA Tour of Australasia and DP World Tour over the past two months, winning the Australian Open last December, before finishing inside the top-five at the Dubai Desert Classic in January. Prior to his trip to Dubai, Niemann vented his frustrations with the ranking system in an interview with Mirror Sport.
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"It is pretty unfair right now what the world rankings shows. It says the top 100 players in the world right now, but I don’t think this is the right ranking," the Torque GC captain admitted in the week before his tied-fourth finish at Emirates Golf Club. "I am going to Dubai for the DP World [Tour] just because of [ranking] points, and to try and get into the Masters...
"At the majors it is all about the best players in the world, and I think it is their job to find a way to have the best players there. Right now it is all about the best players and right now I think I am one of those, I have got to be in those majors. Obviously I took the decision to come to LIV and I knew it was going to be hard to get into the majors because of it.
Niemann is a man in form (Getty Images)"But I think now they have to find a way to get us in, that is why I am trying to play more tournaments than just LIV Golf."
Despite impressing on his return to the DP World Tour it looked like it would not be enough to secure a spot at Augusta National, after failing to break into the top-50.
Niemann however now has no need to worry, after receiving a special invite exemption from tournament organisers to compete at the opening major of the year.
Confirming the invite, Fred Ridley, Chair of Augusta National Golf Club, said in a statement: "The Masters Tournament has a long-standing tradition of inviting leading international players who are not otherwise qualified.
"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."
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