Another LIV Golf tournament, another Joaquín Niemann victory.
The talented Chilean shot 68-64-65 at Club de Golf Chapultepec to win LIV Golf Mexico City by three shots over Bryson DeChambeau and Lucas Herbert. The victory marked the 26-year-old's third of the season (in just six starts) and fifth of his LIV career, tying Brooks Koepka for the most in the circuit's young history.
As impressive as this run has been for Niemann, it's impossible to take him seriously as a top-10 player in the world until this game shows up at a major championship.
Niemann has played in 23 majors in his career. He's finished 30th or worse in 18 of them. He has one—yes, one—top-20 finish in his major championship career, and he still finished 10 shots behind the winner.
Niemann showed up to The Masters this year playing the best golf of his career, winning twice in five LIV Golf starts leading up to the first major of the year. He promptly shot 72-74 in the first two rounds at Augusta National Golf Club to barely squeak by the cut on the number. He shot 2-under on the weekend when the pressure was off to notch an uninspiring T29.
Two weeks later, he returned to LIV and played exceptional golf to win by three. What a coincidence!
CHAMPION IN MEXICO CITY 🏆@joaconiemann claims his 5th LIV Golf League title 💪#LIVGolfMexicoCity @torquegc_ pic.twitter.com/aLfjttwjeG
— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) April 27, 2025
This isn't to disparage LIV Golf or Niemann's victories on the rival tour. There's something to be said about winning multiple times against DeChambeau, Koepka, Jon Rahm, Cameron Smith and other major champions.
Niemann can look like the most talented player in the world when he's tearing up this field, but it just feels... empty. Winning on LIV with dance music blaring in the background and no significant stakes on the line is a bit different than a major championship atmosphere with Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, and Xander Schauffele in the mix.
The good news for Niemann? His win in Mexico City punched his ticket to the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club via the LIV Golf points list. He's now qualified to play in all four major championships this season, which he wasn't able to do in 2024.
It's officially put up or shut up time for Niemann. The youngster has all the talent in the world and now tons of experience winning in fields littered with major winners, but he could win 20 LIV events and still not be considered alongside the elite tier of golfers. This is a momentous few months ahead for Niemann.