In an interview with the North American outlet GOLF, the Chilean gave details on the rivalry that currently exists between the tours and how it will affect what will be seen in the first Major of the year.
Just over a week away from the start of the Augusta Masters, the entire golfing world is already thinking of magnolias, azaleas and green jackets. Whether they follow the traditional PGA or go for the freshness of LIV, Georgia is the only spot on the map when April kicks off.
And Joaquín Niemann is no exception. The Chilean is preparing for his fourth trip through ‘Amen Corner’ with optimism and no less weight: to be part of the group of players who will arrive from LIV. Although Augusta is as far away from a team competition as possible, the 24-year-old admits there will be teams in 2023.
“Obviously, it will be an individual tournament, not by teams. But let’s feel it like this, with the different players playing at the same time for their tour », launches Niemann in an interview he conducted with the North American medium GOLF . At the conference held in Florida, the winner of the Genesis Invitational 2022 delves into the complex relationship between the two most powerful tours in the world and how it fuels him. “I think it’ll be more fun to know they hate us he encourages himself to say.
With direct sentences like this, the man from Talagant comments on his feelings about the current moment in golf, that of rivalries and meetings, where he admits to having felt targeted. “The hardest part was seeing how some tournament players and workers treated us before and after. “, he comments on the period when his name sounded strong for the LIV.
In this sense, the golfer also specifies that the tension within the upper echelons of the sport continues to be very strong due to the emergence of the Arab League, which has come in force thanks to its economic power and seeks to find a more flexible and new discipline. An unprecedented vision, far removed from that implemented by the PGA throughout its history. “I think at the moment there is a big rivalry between the Tour and the LIV. I think there are a lot of players who, I don’t know if they don’t like us or if they don’t like the decisions we make, but it’s going to be fun. “, he launches again.
Another of the points he addresses in the interview is the possibility of being excluded from playing in the Majors for belonging to a tour that is not yet recognized by the World Federation, since he had the achievements to receive the ‘invitation. He answers clearly:It would be a bit silly to leave out so many good players ”.
Finally, he told GOLF his feelings when he found out he could be in the Majors that will take place this season. “Since they announced to us that we were going to be able to play the majors, I thought these four weeks were going to be a lot of fun. Four weeks in the year against them, and try to beat them “, he commented in conclusion.
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Source: Latercera
I am David Jack and I have been working in the news industry for over 10 years. As an experienced journalist, I specialize in covering sports news with a focus on golf. My articles have been published by some of the most respected publications in the world including The New York Times and Sports Illustrated.
