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via Imago

via Imago

It hasn’t been much time since the news of Greg Norman’s exit from LIV Golf broke the internet. The news suggested that Norman would continue working with the Saudi-backed league in some unspecified capacity, and well, that seems to be true. Interestingly, Norman’s wisdom is still inspiring golfers, including Joaquin Niemann, who’s been struggling to make a mark in Majors despite his impressive six wins in the last 16 months. Niemann’s latest win came at Singapore’s Sentosa Golf Club, where he carded a 65 to win by a comfortable five-stroke margin.

After his win, Niemann reflected on his performance, saying, “Today was one of those days, everything went my way. I hit it amazing… I was feeling a little bit more anxious when I woke up, knowing that I was playing with Sebastian, my teammate, who I know has been playing great golf lately, with DJ playing the way he’s playing this week.” Despite the initial nerves, Niemann’s strong start to the round helped him feel freer and focused, and maybe some of the credit can also go to the ‘lucky charm’ he received from a fan. “Yeah, I felt like because of the start that I had, I was able to be really, really free for the whole round.”

Niemann’s confidence boost is also partly due to drawing inspiration from an old interview of Norman, where he talked about his own experiences as the world’s top-ranked golfer without a major win. Norman’s words of wisdom helped calm Niemann’s nerves, and he now believes that his major win is inevitable. “I know I’m going to win a major,” Niemann says confidently at the LIV Golf Singapore press conference. “I know it’s going to happen. Maybe not at the Masters this next three weeks, maybe yes. I have no idea.”

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via Reuters

Niemann’s focus has shifted from worrying about his Major drought to improving his game and learning from tough situations. “All I’m worried about is how I’m going to improve and how I’m going to feel better in those tough situations,” he explains. Well, Niemann had his dreams lined up for sure, but were they really achievable? Let’s take a look at his performance in the Majors last year.

Joaquin Niemann’s 2023 performance at the Majors

If his Major performance last year is any indication, Joaquin Niemann is in for a tough ride in his quest for a Majors win. Despite his impressive form on the LIV Golf circuit, Niemann’s Majors outings in 2024 left much to be desired. He finished T22 at the Masters Tournament, T39 at the PGA Championship, and T58 at The Open. While these finishes may not be disastrous, they hardly inspire confidence in Niemann’s ability to contend for a Major title. His inability to make a significant impact on the major stage is a concern and one that he will need to address if he hopes to finally break his major duck.

Niemann’s scores of 292 (+4), 277 (-7), and 294 (+10) at the three Majors suggest that he struggled to find consistency and momentum. He was unable to string together a series of low rounds, and his high scores ultimately proved costly. It’s worth noting, however, that Niemann is still a relatively young player, and he has already shown flashes of brilliance on the golf course. With time and experience, he may yet develop the skills and mental toughness needed to compete at the highest level, and with his latest win, he sure is confident of that. However, for now, his major record remains a source of concern, and one that he will need to work hard to overcome. Do you think Niemann can win a major this year? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below!

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Will Greg Norman's wisdom be the key to Joaquin Niemann finally clinching a major victory?

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