With just 26 years, Joaquín Niemann dazzles the world of golf with his triumphs. Today, the LIV season, with three victories on six dates. The last one, in Mexico City. This weekend competes in South Korea, from where he talks with Deportivo about his spectacular present and his promising future.
Did you imagine such a good season?
First, I am incredibly happy to see the results. But more than that, what really matters to me and worries me is the form: how I enjoy, how I prepare to do my best. It is true that I ended the week winning, but I try to see how I can do something better in the next and go from there. So, being able to have that spark inside makes me very happy.
And the LIV feeds more that spark than other circuits, thinking that it is played by teams?
One hundred percent. I think that having three more colleagues, a work team behind, who sees logistics and everything that goes beyond golf and also expect results, I am very motivated. I am motivated to work in some way for them. It keeps that spark.
A couple of years ago I was not in such a happy moment. What was the key to getting ahead?
Looking back now, that year I think it has finally been one of my best years because it was where it changed the way I prepare. Seeing bad results made me realize many other things, because obviously I suffered by not seeing results, and that takes away some motivation to continue working, it takes away certain desire. In some way or another, I was not so happy. And he made me return to the main thing, which was why I am happy, why golf game, why I’m here … In the end it made me value other things much more. And today, that I have the results, I continue to focus on the other things, on simple things, which I think are the most important.
It is difficult in the middle of a circuit as millionaire as the Liv …
It is a challenge, obviously. It is something behind my head. I think that when I have played better golf it is when I do not worry about anything, neither of silver, nor about the results, nor anything like that; just playing. But yes, I think that for me it is to leave a legacy, it is to leave my name in different countries around the world; have international victories; May the younger children see me and motivate them. There are many things behind that motivate me much more than money. It is being able to focus on the things that really matter. Silver is something important in my life, for my preparation, for my lifestyle and all that, but it is not the most important.
How much does its success influence the LIV Golf so that it can be done A date in Chile?
One hundred percent. I think it’s something that will end up happening. In the end you have to find the right companies. It would also be ideal to find financial help from the government. Golf is a sport that has giganticly enhanced and I believe there are better talents with chances of winning gold medals in future years. I think the government can make a bet in golf. Maybe it’s somewhat daring, but I think it’s a bet that they have to do. A LIV in Chile looks possible, you have to work for it. There is a good moment and you have to find the right companies and the people who believe in this vision.
Have you talked directly on this topic with Scott O’Neil, CEO of LIV?
To make such a tournament, obviously money is needed and there is a giant logistics. He thinks that 10,000 people can come and to do that a very large investment is needed. But yes, I have spoken to him. He has told me the different strategies of how to do it, because in the end we take 10 thousand or 15 thousand people to an event like this in Chile can also bring resources back, a tourist return … because there will be movement in hotels, in the city, there will be movement in airplanes … There are different models to follow where there may also be an investment for the country. I think it is an idea that is quite small, just a seed, but you have to register it.
Last weekend he classified the US Open, how is it projected and how much motivation it generates?
I see it the same as any other tournament. In the end it is another week of the year, where I am very happy to be able to play it and not have to go to classify. It will be a great week of learning. Every week you learn a lot, but it is still the same preparation that I have for my next LIV tournament. In the end it does not change much.
I ask why in the United States they have been very critical of their performance in the majors. What generate those opinions?
I do not see them much, but I have obviously heard them and that is created because there is enough expectation of a good result and that creates quite narrative and many topics. To all players, all athletes criticize and obviously criticize them until they yield. And I think that once they are also criticizing them. The truth is what my approach is, what I have to concentrate. Everything that goes behind media and what is talked about; Of critics and all that, in the end I create value in my name, to my brand and that is nothing more. In the end there will always be criticism.
What do you think has lacked to make that leap?
Remove the focus a little on those weeks. I have the game, I have the scores… I have seen results in all places where I play. When I just came to LIV, it cost me a lot to play and grab pace. I ended up adapting and I think I am someone who adapts a lot to situations and this is nothing more than another of them. It has cost me a little so far, but I still adapt; I keep trying to look for answers and I know they will appear. For how good I am, I know that at some point they will appear and the plane will take off.
At some point Marcelo Ríos said that it caught his attention how relaxed you are despite being competing with the best and also winning them …
Yes, I think it has changed my way of being. Well, not much. The truth, not my way of being, but my way of seeing golf; To see competitiveness, to be in my own calm until playing, to execute and all that. I remember when he went to see me and for me it was a giant honor, the Chinese is one of my idols, so it became, and it is someone that I admire a lot. So it was special to have had it nearby, having felt your support. From time to time, I mood me. It is special to have people like him.
What is Torque like?
Look. At this time, I am sitting in the players’ dining room, I am looking at the full room and I can see the differences of all the teams. I see our table and the whole team is sitting. More than the players, the workers. Each is in their own role, in addition to families. They are all together and in the end I think the difference is that we are very united, we share the values a lot, we try to seek excellence in life. Because finally golf is a sport that reflects a lot how your life is, we try to help each other. We are workers and that is what we are passionate about.
You talk about the family. How was that support, especially that of his wife?
It is a giant support, it is a great ground cable, it is a great disconnection of what I do and to be more human; To be able to share time with her, talk about life, talking about different perspectives of each other … I really enjoy traveling with her, it helps me a lot during the week to stay focused, to stay in my things and so it is much easier.
Myth Pereira is going through a complicated moment. In his role Captain of Torque, how does the team do it to lift it together?
Myth is a player, he has won tournaments worldwide. He is a very talented player, but the most talented in the league … but sport is like that, there are high and low. And, as I told you before, when I had my low year it was where I could learn from me, where I could grow the most, where I could mature, and I think he is nothing more in a process, and in the end that process will help him a lot to be a better player than he was before.
And how does that process live with him?
It is very entertaining to be in a team and see those processes, because it motivates a lot. Talk to Carlos (Ortiz), with Sebastián (Muñoz) and with myth; To have seen me also play evil in a year and be able to get out of that hole, motivate a lot … see how one has the desire and belief that he is doing things right and to move forward. Finally, it is having a strength and will to get out of those moments, which is admirable. Here we are all fighters and we know that myth is going to leave where he is, for the good, for the talented and for the successful person.
How was the rivalry with Jon Rahm for you?
It is one of the strongest players of the League and last year I saw what he really is, I have played my best golf until that moment. I was close, but I couldn’t win it, having played so well. Especially in the second part of the season, he played incredible. But I think that having left second last year was the best thing that could happen to me, because he left me wanting to come to do better and I think I’m on the right track, although there is still a lot of season and I know how good he is and what he can become. Then I have to continue there, attentive.
A wish for the rest of the year?
The truth is that I am happy with whatever comes, and I think that is what I like about life; that you have to be willing to come and surprise oneself.
