A spokesperson for the PGA confirmed that Joaquin Niemann, currently playing on the LIV Golf Tour, has been granted a special invitation to participate in this year’s PGA Championship.
Joaquin Niemann Receives Special Invitation
As Joaquin Niemann cannot collect any world ranking points on the LIV Golf Tour, a special invitation of this kind is required for the Chilean to secure his participation. Only players in the top 100 of the world rankings are usually invited to the PGA Championship. Although Joaquin Niemann is currently ranked 72nd in the world, he is in danger of falling out of the world’s top 100 by May. This is despite the fact that he has won two LIV Golf League events this season, including last week in Saudi Arabia. Niemann was also successful at the ISPS Handa Australian Open at the start of the current DP World Tour season and finished third at the International Series in Oman.
Not the First Special Invitation
Such special permission to take part in a tournament is not an isolated case, as it is often at the discretion of the major organisers who they invite to take part in the tournament. Last year, eight players from LIV Golf received such an invitation. Niemann himself already received special permission to take part in the Masters at Augusta National a fortnight ago. With the invitation for the PGA Championship, the 25-year-old is now qualified for three of the four Major tournaments this year. The PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club takes place from 16 to 19 May in Louisville, Kentucky.