As part of the tournament’s tradition of Recognizing elite foreign players who are not otherwise eligible for the event, Joaquin Niemann of LIV Golf was one of three golfers who accepted a special invitation to compete in the Masters.
Niemann also received special invites from Augusta National, as did Ryo Hisatsune of Japan and Thorbjorn Olesen of Denmark. Niemann won LIV Golf’s season opening at Mayakoba in early February.
According to a statement from Augusta National Golf Club chairman Fred Ridley, “today’s announcement represents the tournament’s continued commitment towards developing interest in the game of golf across the world.” “We look forward to welcoming each player to Augusta National this spring.”
Niemann’s prospects of competing in the Masters this year under LIV Golf’s disqualification from world ranking points.
Immediately following his triumph at Mayakoba, where Niemann beat Spaniard Sergio Garcia with a 12-foot birdie on the fourth playoff hole in the fading light, the Chilean was clear about what his goals were.
“I want to win majors, but I gotta get in first,” Niemann said.
Niemann has top-five finishes in each of his three DP World Tour starts this season, including winning the Australian Open in a playoff last December which qualified him for the July 18-21 British Open at Royal Troon.
The former No. 1 ranked amateur in the world has made the cut in three of his first four Masters appearances, including last year when he enjoyed a career-best share of 16th place at Augusta National.
Olesen, who has five top-10s in his last seven worldwide appearances, made the cut in each of his three previous Masters appearances, including a share of sixth place in his 2013 debut.
For Hisatsune, who last November became the first Japanese player to be voted Rookie of the Year on the Europe-based DP World Tour, this will mark his Masters debut.
This year’s Masters will be held April 11-14. Jon Rahm won last year’s Masters for his second major title, a triumph that came eight months before his stunning move to LIV Golf was announced.
