LIV Golf star shares Bryson DeChambeau sympathy over 'unfair' Olympics absence

Joaquin Niemann believes that the use of the Official World Golf Ranking to determine the men's golf event at the Olympic Games is unfair. Niemann, in Paris representing Chile, began his tournament with a five-under-par 66 in the opening round at Le Golf National.

"No," was Niemann's simple response when asked if he thought the qualification process was 'fair'. He added: "I don't think it's fair. You don't have the best players right now I feel like."

Seven LIV Golf stars, including Chilean compatriot Mito Pereira, Jon Rahm, David Puig, Adrian Meronk, Carlos Ortiz, and Abraham Ancer, are competing this week alongside Niemann. Due to LIV Golf's lack of OWGR accreditation, there aren't many LIV representatives ; Niemann thinks this has hurt the field's caliber in the French capital.

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Big names from LIV, including Bryson DeChambeau, Cam Smith, and Brooks Koepka, are notably missing from the Olympic field. To help his ascent back up the rankings, Niemann had to leave the LIV system earlier this year.

He triumphed at the Australian Open while competing on the DP World Tour, and earlier this season, he tied for fourth place at the Dubai Desert Classic. .

Not only did this help him earn an Olympic spot, but it also aided his way into three of the four major championships in 2024. Highlighting his own ventures away from the Saudi-backed circuit, he added: "Yeah, I feel like it's what I do and I feel like right now, there's a little bit of a crisis and things that have to be fixed. I just play another week of golf and try to earn my way into the majors, and that's what I did last year."

A victory this week would not only earn Niemann an Olympic gold medal but it would also earn him exemption into all four major championships in 2025.

Regardless of the added incentive, the Chilean's focus lies solely with delivering a medal for his nation. "I'm trying to win and whatever comes after that, it comes," he commented. "I'm here just to have a good week and enjoy that and we'll see what it brings after that."

"If you didn't have those four majors for a win, I would have the same intensity. I will have the same motivation to win. I mean, I feel like this is Olympics and got to focus more on winning medals than winning my way into the majors."

The LIV Golf leader will return to Olympic action in Friday's second round, teeing off alongside Thorbjrn Olesen of Denmark and Alejandro Tosti from Argentina.