2022 Zurich Classic of New Orleans: Top 10 Power Rankings

The first-ever Chilean team at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans is here. Joaquin Niemann is no newcomer to this event, but he’s swapped out Dylan Frittelli from his 2019 debut for an up-and-coming star countryman, Mito Pereira.

Let’s start with Niemann. You would think he’s the 27-year-old and Pereira’s the 23-year-old given their time spent in the spotlight, not the opposite.

Niemann already owns two PGA Tour wins after he blitzed a talented field at the Genesis Invitational in February. He has two other top-10s worldwide and is coming off a T-12th last week at the RBC Heritage.

Niemann’s T-35th at the Masters isn’t indicative of how well he played early in the tournament amidst the Tiger Woods circus. Niemann has room to grow in the majors, but that was a good step before struggles on the weekend.

That’s about all you can nitpick with his game these days. Niemann ranks 15th on the PGA Tour in total strokes gained (1.365) and is top-40 in every SG category except for putting.

Pereira is not just a fellow Chilean riding Niemann’s coattails.

He has the makings of a future PGA Tour winner.

Pereira won three times on the Korn Ferry Tour between 2020-21 to earn a battlefield promotion onto the PGA Tour. He made the most of the opportunity last summer, making four of five cuts at the end of the PGA Tour season. Not to mention, he nearly medaled at the Olympics, finishing T-4th and participating in a playoff for the bronze.

Pereira kicked off the 2021-22 season with a career-best third-place finish at the Fortinet Championship. That remains is only top-10, but 10 top-30s show he’s not far off.

This is one of the best ball-striking teams in the field. Niemann and his patented low ball flight have him eighth on the PGA Tour in strokes gained tee to green (1.368). His short game is also strong, coming in at 11th in SG around the green (.464).

Pereira can hang with Niemann with driver and irons. Pereira is 22nd in SG tee to green (1.01) and 14th in SG approach (.634). Neither are particularly strong putters, but they’re both capable of getting hot on the right week.

Besides, having two sets of players’ eyes read every putt can’t hurt.