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It’s been a pretty good few weeks for Joaquin Niemann.

Hot on the heels of receiving an invite to play in The Masters, the Chilean has been given an exemption into this year’s PGA Championship, meaning he will feature in at least the first two majors of 2025.

The news comes just days after the 26-year-old finished T3 on his first start of 2025 at the International Series India event.

He gets his LIV Golf League campaign under way this week in Riyadh as he bids to go one better than 2024, where, despite winning twice in the regular season, he finished second on the individual standings behind Jon Rahm.

By common consent, he is one of LIV’s star players and his performances over the past year justify his major invitations.

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But not everyone is impressed.

Brandel Chamblee, for instance.

Speaking in the latest edition of bunkered – issue 220, on-sale now from all good newsagents – the tour pro turned commentator articulated his belief that Niemann is overhyped by his Saudi-funded paymasters.

“All those players joined that tour saying they wanted to play less but now, to accrue world ranking points, they’re playing more and all around the world where ranking points are available, the way Joaquin Niemann has done,” said Chamblee.

“And Niemann, yeah, he’s a good player, but let’s not pretend that he’s as good as they pretend he is. He’s played in 22 majors and never even finished in the top-15. Seven missed cuts.

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“They keep acting like he’s the next Rory McIlroy, the same way they were talking about Talor Gooch last year, who, by the way, played in three majors, missed two cuts and finished 34th in the other [in 2023], so turns out he’s not as good as they said he was.”

Chamblee went on to double-down on his criticism of LIV, taking particular issue with the source of its money.

“Look, all countries are dirty,” he said. “The United States is certainly no saint. But on a human atrocity scale, I think Saudi Arabia is near the lead in the way they treat women, the way they treat homosexuals, and the way they treat every single freedom and liberty that has made the west what it is.

“If Uber were 100% Saudi Arabia-owned, I would never use it. I don’t know at what level [of investment] I would stop using it, but I believe they own something like 10% and that, to me, sounds palatable.

“Nobody, I think, would be comfortable with them owning the lion’s share, or a large share, of the PGA Tour, because at some point you’re going to have to apologise for their conduct as a country.”

• Read the full interview with Brandel Chamblee in issue 220 of bunkered, on-sale now from all good newsagents. Alternatively, subscribe here. International subscriptions also available.


author headshot

Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor

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