International LIV Golf Star: ‘It Sucks’ to Be Kept off Presidents Cup Team

Joaquin Niemann, the Chilean golfer who will be battling Jon Rahm for the individual LIV Golf championship this weekend in Chicago, isn’t pleased that he won’t be taking part in this year’s President Cup tournament.

Niemann has won twice on the LIV circuit and the Australian Open, a sanctioned DP World Tour event, last December. But because Niemann is indefinitely suspended from the PGA Tour, he can’t participate in the biennial event that pits a U.S. team against one made up of international stars who do not hail from Europe.

Joaquin Niemann has condemned the Presidents Cup ban on LIV Golf players, saying it is preventing the best field from competing in the team-based event at Royal Montreal this month. https://t.co/qyIlnR7X47 https://t.co/qyIlnR7X47

— Reuters Sports (@ReutersSports) September 10, 2024

Niemann said on a conference call with reporters ahead of LIV Golf Chicago:

“It sucks. I would love to be on that team. At the end of the day, it’s (supposed to be) the best golfers around the world and they’re not doing that right now.”

Cameron Smith and Niemann both missed out on the 2022 Presidents Cup, despite being ranked No. 1 and 4 in the standings respectively that year, because they had recently joined LIV Golf. Unlike the Ryder Cup, the PGA Tour runs the Presidents Cup, so any sanctions on golfers for that tour carry over to the Presidents Cup.

Despite being excluded, Niemann said he’ll be watching and rooting for his fellow global golfers.

Niemann added:

“I do believe they (the Internationals) have a strong team, but it could be an even stronger team. Of course, I’d love to see the Americans lose.”

The Presidents Cup will take place at Royal Montreal Golf Club in Canada from Sept. 26-29.

Cover Image via CNN