New Delhi: Joaquin Niemann likes to dwell within the quick lane. The 2-time PGA winner and a self-confessed adrenaline junkie loves his mountaineering adventures and actively tracks the progress of McLaren’s Lando Norris on the System One grid. It’s of little shock then that the Chilean has taken the quick path to success on the greens, changing into the one golfer from his nation to win on the PGA tour apart from ending runner-up within the LIV Golf League particular person standings and taking the Worldwide Collection rankings crown in solely his second season on the breakaway tour.
Golfer Joaquin Niemann. (AP)
Niemann, who captains Torque GC on the LIV Golf League, gained twice — in Mayakoba and Jeddah – final 12 months and had two T2 and T3 finishes every, narrowly dropping out to two-time Main champion Jon Rahm, who captains Legion XIII.
“It’s been a pretty good year, though I would have loved to finish first at the end of the season. But still, a year like this gives you that extra battery to work harder every day. I had put in a lot of effort and it’s nice to see the work pay off at the end,” Niemann mentioned.
The 26-year-old can be in India later this month for the Worldwide Collection because it makes its India debut at Gurugram’s DLF Golf and Nation Membership. “I am very excited to come to India. It’s a place I had heard a lot about in terms of culture and civilisation and it’ll be nice to explore some of it along with some golf,” he mentioned.
Headlined by Crushers GC captain Bryson DeChambeau, Niemann can be a part of a robust contingent of 15 LIV members that may descend right here for the primary time to point out their wares on the testing DLF course.
“I have read some comments about the course. It’s got some really tough and tricky holes which I feel is a good thing because it will test every player. I am quite excited to tee off in India. I would like to thank Anirban Lahiri, who convinced me to come to India for golf,” Niemann, who often begins his season in Oman, mentioned.
Whereas all eyes can be on 2024 US Open champion DeChambeau – he’s identified for an analytical and scientific strategy to the sport apart from his astounding yardage – Niemann has been working exhausting to match the ‘Mad Scientist’ stroke for stroke.
“I hit them fairly long myself. In fact, I may have a better season’s average than Bryson,” he chuckled, admitting the sizeable shift in worldwide golf in direction of hitting large. “It’s just the way the game is at this point. You also have to hit straight besides hitting long. There’s a whole lot of science to it,” he added. LIV Golf statistics for 2024 place DeChambeau No.1 with a median driving distance of 323.5 yards; Niemann is second (322.5 yards).
A part of that science behind reaching distance is constructing bodily power and explosive energy, features that Niemann fairly enjoys. “I like to hit the gym and lift weights, to be honest. I lift four days a week and dedicate a day to stretching and mobility. It helps me connect with my body and lets me know what I am capable of,” Niemann, who squats 150kg on a median, mentioned.
Niemann’s current Instagram clip exhibits him practising 36 and 42-inch vertical jumps. “This is to get Bryson scared,” he says cheekily within the video earlier than leaping. Jokes aside, constructing explosive energy was on Niemann’s agenda coming into this season as he goals to dominate the LIV tour.
“I focussed a lot on weight transfer and body balance while swinging. Understanding the foot pressure and the way my body transfers weight was the key. Then, I did different exercises for my swing to generate more speed and power. Ultimately, all these little things contribute towards a strong and steady swing.”
Moreover the LIV tour, Niemann is trying ahead to the Augusta Masters in April, the place he can be a particular invitee for the second 12 months working. He has performed 5 instances within the 12 months’s first Main. He missed the minimize the primary time in 2018 whereas his finest effort was T16 in 2023.
“Playing the Masters is a big deal for any golfer and I’m really looking forward to it. It’s hard to get into the majors but I know it’s going to come to a solution because we (LIV) have some of the best players in the world. Eventually, I feel there will be spots for LIV players on every major.”