x
Skip to main content
Golf Logo
InsideGolf Join Now  / Log In
Dreams of Masters invite has 1 LIV golfer playing in Dubai this week
SHARE
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share by Email
Golf Logo
  • News
    • Latest
      • News
      • Features
      • Shows
      • PGA Tour Schedule
    • Series
      • Tour Confidential
      • Monday Finish
      • Hot Mic
      • Rogers Report
    • Shows
      • The Scoop
      • Subpar
      • Seen & Heard
  • Instruction
    • Game Improvement
      • Driving
      • Approach Shots
      • Bunker Shots
      • Short Game
      • Putting
      • Rules
      • Fitness
    • Series
      • Top 100 Teachers
      • Rules Guy
      • The Etiquetteist
    • Shows
      • Warming Up
      • Play Smart
      • Short Game Chef
      • Pros Teaching Joes
  • Gear
    • Clubs
      • Drivers
      • Irons
      • Hybrids
      • Fairway Woods
      • Wedges
      • Putters
    • Other Gear
      • Balls
      • Shoes
      • Apparel
      • Golf Accessories
    • Series
      • ClubTest
      • Winner’s Bag
    • Shows
      • Fully Equipped
  • Travel & Lifestyle
    • Travel
      • Course Finder
      • Courses
      • Resorts
    • Lifestyle
      • Accessories
      • Celebrities
      • Food
      • Style
      • Betting Advice
    • Shows
      • Super Secrets
      • Destination Golf
  • Shop
    • Shop
      • Clubs
      • Shafts
      • Training Aids
      • Balls
      • Bags
      • Technology
      • Apparel
      • Accessories
      • Our Picks
      • Shop All
    • Collections
      • The GOLF Collection
      • The Birdie Juice Collection
      • The Fully Equipped Collection
      • Shop All
  • Newsletters
    • Sign Up for GOLF’s Newsletters
      • Hot Mic
      • Monday Finish
      • Play Smart
      • Our Picks
      • Top Stories
      • Sign Up for All
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Features
    • Shows
    • PGA Tour Schedule
  • Instruction
    • All Instruction
    • Driving
    • Approach Shots
    • Bunker Shots
    • Short Game
    • Putting
    • Rules
    • Fitness
  • Gear
    • All Gear
    • Drivers
    • Irons
    • Hybrids
    • Fairway Woods
    • Wedges
    • Putters
    • Balls
    • Shoes
    • Apparel
    • Golf Accessories
  • Travel & Lifestyle
    • All Travel
    • All Lifestyle
    • Course Finder
    • Courses
    • Resorts
    • Accessories
    • Celebrities
    • Food
    • Style
    • Betting Advice
  • Series
    • Tour Confidential
    • Monday Finish
    • Hot Mic
    • Rogers Report
    • Rules Guy
    • The Etiquetteist
    • ClubTest
    • Winner’s Bag
  • Shows
    • The Scoop
    • Subpar
    • Seen & Heard
    • Warming Up
    • Play Smart
    • Short Game Chef
    • Pros Teaching Joes
    • Fully Equipped
    • Super Secrets
    • Destination Golf
  • Shop
    • Clubs
    • Shafts
    • Training Aids
    • Balls
    • Bags
    • Technology
    • Apparel
    • Accessories
    • The GOLF Collection
    • The Birdie Juice Collection
    • The Fully Equipped Collection
  • Newsletters
    • Hot Mic
    • Monday Finish
    • Play Smart
    • Top Stories
    • Our Picks
    • Sign Up for All
InsideGolf Join Now  / Log In
InsideGolf

Over $140 of value - Just $39.99

InsideGOLF
News

Dreams of Masters invite has 1 LIV golfer playing in Dubai this week

By: Sean Zak
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Follow on Instagram
January 18, 2024
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share by Email
Joaquin Niemann

Joaquin Niemann carded a 69 during the first round of his Dubai Desert Classic.

Getty Images

DUBAI — Last year at the Dubai Desert Classic, the driving range was all the rage. You remember, right? Patrick Reed tossing a tee at Rory McIlroy when the latter didn’t rush to shake his outstretched hand, having received a court summons from the former on Christmas Eve. 

This year, a much cheerier driving range between members of opposing golf tours. Joaquin Niemann arrived there late Monday morning wearing a huge smile. He was greeted from afar by Adam Scott, member of the PGA Tour’s Policy Board, a privileged corner of the membership that has been embattled by a LIV-fueled fracturing of the game. 

“National champion, very good,” Scott shouted to Niemann, whose most recent golf tournament was at the Australian Open, which he won. “Nice list of names on that trophy. Did you have a good look? 2009, spectacular.” 

He’s right. In addition to Adam Scott (2009), there’s Rory McIlroy (2013), Jordan Spieth (’14 and ’16), even Greg Norman five separate times. Scott And Niemann have more than that in common — they were teammates on the 2019 Presidents Cup team that nearly toppled the Americans, led by Tiger Woods.

2019 must feel like forever ago for these two, since Scott and Niemann were notably not teammates on the 2022 Presidents Cup team, as Niemann had committed to LIV Golf and was thusly banned from taking part. They have since lived very different lives — Scott leaning even further into PGA Tour leadership and Niemann doing the exact opposite by captaining a LIV team. All of this is part of the reason why it was nice to see them getting along Monday in Dubai. Not that you’d expect anything different, but because the last LIV golfer to play this tournament in competition had a lot of people rooting against him. 

Differences aside, a fair question exists: Why is Niemann here, anyway, as the only LIV golfer in the field? 

The answer is simple, but it extends back to Australia. Niemann earned a few things with that victory — firstly, he earned automatic membership on the DP World Tour, which allowed him to enter this field without needing an invitation. Secondly, he received a bunch of World Ranking points, boosting him from 82nd to 59th. Why that matters is something only the staunchest pro golf followers know — the top 50 at the end of the calendar year are invited to the Masters. 

Niemann didn’t quite crack the top 50 at end of 2023, but he knows there’s another cutoff coming up. If he can push his way into the top 50 by the end of March, he’ll earn a last-minute invite to Augusta National. That is why he’s here in Dubai, thousands of miles from home and the upcoming start of LIV’s 2024 season. 

“I know I want to be there and I know I want to play in those four events and I know if I play there, I have a chance to win,” Niemann said Thursday. “My goal is to get there.”

He’s off to a proper start. Niemann carved out a three-under 69 in the first round at Emirates Golf Club, placing him just two back of the early lead. If he can somehow win this week, he’d easily elevate into the top 50, likely in the range of 45th in the world. Only then comes the tricky part. 

Niemann’s LIV season begins in just two weeks, and will take up the majority of his time between now and the Masters. His ranking will only deteriorate as the weeks go by since LIV events do not award OWGR points. So even with a victory this week, Niemann’s place in the top 50 would still be at the mercy of other players across the world. 

Nonetheless, he’s traveled across the planet because there’s a chance it could happen. And a spot in the Masters means a chance to win a major, or finish top 4 — which gets you in the other majors — or finish top 12, which gets you an invite to the 2025 Masters. It’s a tricky mindset Niemann is forced into by the state of the pro game, as well as his own decision-making, especially for a player who was ranked in the top 20 just 18 months ago, but he’s accepted it.

“I think I deserve to be in the majors,” he said. “Obviously the World Rankings don’t show that but I think if I had to play every week with World Ranking [points], I know I would be in the majors. But it is what it is, and that’s why I’m here.”

Latest In News

24 minutes ago

Jordan's turn? Scottie surging? 10 burning PGA Championship questions

3 hours ago

The biggest winner on Sunday? This fill-in caddie

3 hours ago

These 16 LIV players are in 2025 PGA Championship field

7 hours ago

How to watch the 2025 PGA Championship: TV schedule, streaming, tee times

Sean Zak

Golf.com Editor

Sean Zak is a writer at GOLF Magazine and just published his first book, which follows his travels in Scotland during the most pivotal summer in the game’s history.

  • Author Twitter Account
  • Author Instagram Account

Related Articles

News
Joaquin Niemann walks to the tee box during the final round of LIV Golf Mexico City on Sunday.

Joaquin Niemann wins LIV Mexico City, earns another major start

By: Josh Berhow
Gear
Niemann's ping driver

Inside the golf bag of LIV Mexico City winner Joaquin Niemann

By: Johnny Wunder
News
Joaquin Niemann celebrates after his win at LIV Golf Singapore at Sentosa Golf Club on Sunday.

A confident Joaquin Niemann keeps winning (and Phil makes 1 bold claim)

By: Josh Berhow
Gear
Joaquin Niemann's bag with clubs

Joaquin Niemann has fascinating bag setup we all can learn from

By: Johnny Wunder
News
Joaquin Niemann hits a shot during the final round of LIV Adelaide.

Joaquin Niemann's LIV Adelaide win was important for 1 major reason

By: Josh Schrock
News
Pro golfer Joaquin Niemann hits out of the rough during the first round of the 2024 ISPS Handa Australian Open Golf tournament at the Kingston Heath Club.

LIV star makes world-ranking leap with playoff win in Saudi Arabia

By: Kevin Cunningham
News
joaquin niemann and jon rahm exchange an epic handshake at a LIV Golf event

LIV star ‘more optimistic’ about major access for LIV players in 2025

By: James Colgan
News
Joaquin Niemann

‘Playing Ping-Pong’: LIV pro is 15 yards away at Open, then takes 7 shots

By: Nick Piastowski
News
Liv pro Joaquin Niemann plays chip shot during 2023 Masters

Augusta announces surprise Masters invites to LIV golfer, two others

By: Kevin Cunningham
Sign up for GOLF's Newsletters
Get the latest news, the hottest instruction tips, new product releases, golf media insider reports and more delivered directly to your inbox. Choose your favorites now.
Sign Up
Categories
  • News
  • Instruction
  • Gear
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
Services
  • Masthead
  • GOLF Media Kit
  • GOLF Magazine Customer Service
  • TERMS OF SERVICE
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • Opt-out of Ads/Sharing
  • Your Privacy Choices
Social
  • facebook
  • x
  • instagram
  • youtube
Membership
InsideGOLF Logo
More than $140 Value for JUST $39.99

INCLUDES 12 SRIXON Z-STAR XV GOLF BALLS, 1 YR OF GOLF MAGAZINE, $20 FAIRWAY JOCKEY CREDIT - AND MUCH MORE!

LEARN MORE

© 2025 EB Golf Media LLC. An 8AM Golf Affiliated Brand. All Rights Reserved. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy a linked product, GOLF.COM may earn a fee. Pricing may vary.

Go to mobile version