Henry McKenna
NFL reporter
MIAMI – Joaquin Niemann should have hit 100 balls on the Wednesday vary at Trump National Doral in entrance of the Miami Golf of Liv. His help workers mentioned nearly nothing to him. Around him, the opposite professionals labored with any sort of coach, coach and supervisor. They made their adjustments to arrange for the weekend. But with Niemann, it’s proper to marvel if there’s something to vary. Is enjoying That WELL.
In the final 14 months within the Liv tour, the 26 -year -old Chilean has by no means performed higher. The sustained excellence was ample for Phil Mickelson to tweet that Niemann is the perfect golfist on the earth after grabbing one other particular person victory in Liv Singapore.
“He is a participant from the Hall of Fame,” Niemann mentioned to Fox Sports Thursday. “It was certainly one of my idols since I used to be rising. So, sure, to make him say that it’s fairly particular.”
For the second consecutive season, Niemann received two of the primary 4 particular person competitions in Liv. Last 12 months, he arrived second to Jon Rahm within the closing particular person rating. This 12 months, Niemann is positioned at n. 1 and Rahm at n. 2. Niemann’s sustained excellence on Liv. But a handful of Pga Tour gamers has been searched for Mickelson’s feedback. And maybe that is why Rahm defended his finest competitor throughout the tour.
“There isn’t any shock as a result of at this level it’s simple,” Rahm mentioned to Fox Sports. “It is nearly inconceivable to disclaim the expertise (of Niemann) and its outcome, proper? I perceive why many individuals could need to lower his expertise as a result of he’s profitable on Liv, however he is without doubt one of the most proficient gamers on the earth, among the best gamers on the earth – doubtless.”
For Niemann, there is just one technique to clear up the talk on his finest standing on the earth.
The process in sight is each easy and sophisticated: Win Majors.
His finest efficiency in a significant was at Masters, the place he concluded sixteenth in Augusta in 2023. He additionally had among the many first 25 years within the US Open and the PGA championship. But no victory.
“You are a lot measured in these predominant championships, proper?” Rahm mentioned. “So I believe that anybody who’s placed on the radar (like the perfect golf participant on the earth), it’s important to win a higher, and if you don’t win a higher, it’s important to create an astronomical quantity of championships and awards to be thought of its title. It has the chance and I agree with you, if it will possibly current itself and maybe get a (higher) victory”.
Niemann doesn’t keep away from its historical past to the principle tournaments. He mentioned that “he’s nonetheless making an attempt to grasp it” on that section by which he mentioned he hopes to “attempt to higher handle these conditions”. To get hold of these outcomes, he has elevated the depth with which he approaches his offseason, his weekend of the match and his swing periods. Liv Scott O’Neil’s CEO mentioned Niemann is the skilled who works hardest on the tour, together with his coaches who need to carry him out of the vary.
After Singapore, Nieman mentioned he looks like a “totally different participant” this 12 months. What has modified?
“Everything, I really feel how loads has modified. I really feel like a unique participant. Everything. From each facet, from the way in which I handle my golf sport, in the way in which I handle my feelings on the trail, the way in which I put together for tournaments, the way in which I put together on my offseason,” he mentioned. “I solely have that dedication with myself to enhance. And since I signed that dedication with myself, I’ve turn out to be a greater golf. It all began with that two years in the past.”
An space – not less than in Liv – the place it might study from Rahm is consistency. Rahm by no means completed outdoors the highest 10 since he entered Liv originally of the 2023 season. There are 16 consecutive occasions throughout the Top 10. In the identical span, Niemann has 4 particular person victories and eight podiums, but in addition three finishes at thirtieth or worse.
A victory (or perhaps a podium) in Miami can be a powerful step in direction of that consistency. And he would have laid the foundations for the Masters of Augusta, the place Niemann hopes to be greater than a easy contender.
“Being the mayor’s season, I really feel just a little greater than that strain,” mentioned Niemann, who acts as captain of the tip of the day, is barely his strain. And we hear strain each time we play golf tournaments. Each time it’s totally different. And I really feel as if it’s a new problem each time. I’m simply prepared for that new problem. I waited a great outcome for some time on the majors. I do know it can come and joyful to be within the place I’m and in the way in which I’m enjoying. I really feel it will likely be a terrific problem and I can not wait. “
Niemann has lengthy been one of many rules of golf, since he dominated the newbie tour – and even grabbed two PGA victories earlier than becoming a member of Liv. But there could solely be a king.
Before becoming a member of Fox Sports as a journalist and editorialist of the NFL, Henry McKenna spent seven years to cowl the Patriots for USA Today Sports Media Group and Boston Globe Media. Follow it on Twitter a @HENRYCMKENNA.
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