One surprise LIV Golf star could add to his considerable winnings from the past few years with another major payday at the DP World Tour Championship
Joaquin Niemann can add to his LIV Golf fortune at the DP World Tour Championship this weekend.
The world No138 stands as one of the most prolific talents in the Saudi-funded LIV Golf League and sits sixth in its all-time money list. But in addition to winning £28.7million ($36.4m) under LIV’s banner over the past two years, he can bank another £2.4m ($3m) at Jumeirah Golf Estates come Sunday.
Only an elite few have accumulated more cash than Niemann playing for LIV, with reigning champion Jon Rahm (£30m), five-time major champion Brooks Koepka (£31m) and all-time leader Talor Gooch (£44m) among them. But his potential winnings aren’t restricted to the rebel circuit.
Some may be stunned to see the Chilean – who joined LIV near its genesis in 2022 – in the 50-man field for a shot at winning the Race to Dubai. And yet he is perfectly eligible to play, as are fellow LIV contenders Tyrell Hatton and Adrian Meronk, each of whom are also in the DP World Tour Championship field.
Niemann – who finished as runner-up in the LIV points list this year – qualified for the Race to Dubai finale as one of the top 50 players in the rankings. He placed 33rd in the standings, thanks largely to his win at the Australian Open in December 2023. However, he also earned a healthy points contribution, tying for fourth place at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic this past January.
Why LIV dissidents are allowed to compete in DP World Tour events despite being sanctioned by the competition is a matter of litigation. The DP World Tour won a legal battle to earn the right to sanction and fine players who deserted for LIV, but it was adjudged that those players could still compete in relevant competitions while going through the appeals process.
Players can serve their fines and suspensions from what was formerly the European Tour, but even having one’s membership revoked isn’t enough to rule them out entirely. In the case of major tournaments and other competitions, invites can even be issued to circumvent any restrictions on LIV talents.
That’s how Hatton and Meronk – who finished sixth and 43rd in the Race to Dubai rankings – will also be permitted their places at the DP World Tour Championship this weekend. And the golf community will watch with bated breath to see how those rebel figures fare in pursuit of the massive seven-figure payday.
The action gets underway at Jumeirah Golf Estates on Thursday, with standings leader Rory McIlroy seeking his sixth DP World Tour Championship. Winner of the last two titles, doing so would bring him level with Seve Ballesteros and within two of all-time record-holder Colin Montgomerie.
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