Joaquin Niemann He is going to contest this week the Big number ten of his career. A round number. Curiously, Rolex It also celebrates a very special date this week. 40 years of unconditional support for the US Open. Niemann has been a Rolex player since his professional career began. Any cabal lover would say that this week Niemann should not be lost sight of. «Nothing would make me more excited than to see myself on Sunday posing for the photographers with the trophy of the US Open and my watch. It’s a dream, “he says.
Niemann, despite his youth, is one of the favorites to win this week at Torrey Pines. Perhaps he is not in the first echelon of candidates for victory, but his figure looks strongly at the second level. His victory would come as no surprise, and that is saying a lot for a 22-year-old golfer. Hours before starting the US Open, a special appointment for him because it was the tournament where he made his debut in the ‘majors’ he attends the call of Ten Golf to tell us his feelings.
What would Joaquín Niemann’s victory at the US Open mean for a country like Chile?
The US Open is a Big one and the Big ones are the most important tournaments for us. They are the tournaments that we want to win the most and for which we work the most. In addition, Rolex is one of the main sponsors of the tournament and I am a Rolex player, so posing with the trophy on Sunday with my Rolex watch on my wrist would be a dream come true.
Speaking of Rolex, how about the support it has always shown to golf?
Not only in professional golf, I remember the support of Rolex always traveling around the United States playing amateur tournaments when I was younger and there was always their advertising on the greens, also in Chile there were their advertisements, of course on television … Always, always has been Rolex linked to golf and now also in professional tournaments. They chose to support me and I really like being part of their family. I try to show my personality since I was little and show how professional I am. Rolex is a very prestigious brand and since I was ten years old, since I knew that watches existed I knew the difference between Rolex and other brands. My dad never owned a Rolex but it was always his dream. Being part of them, of the family, is very special and makes me feel very good. It also includes a lot of responsibility, you have to know how to behave, show a good image to the boys who come from below and have respect for the brand.
In which echelon would you place the US Open among the Big Four?
I really like the US Open because it was the first ‘major’ I played as an amateur when I was 18 years old (2017), but Augusta really stole my heart. Masters is the first and US Open is the second.
Were you the first Chilean to win a PGA Tour tournament in 2019, at the Greenbrier and now you can be the first to win a Grande, is it an added motivation or pressure?
Ever since I started playing on the PGA Tour I have known and been convinced that, despite the fact that there are very good players, I had enough game to win if I had a good week. It wasn’t a surprise to win because I knew it could happen. Obviously, it was very beautiful and exciting. I have never been more satisfied. Making par at 18 and signing the card and getting the trophy was something very nice. I have always seen the great players winning tournaments, posing with the trophies… It was beautiful to have my first photo with the watch and hopefully in the future I can have the entire Rolex collection.
Did anything change with the victory from a personal or professional point of view?
It was a very beautiful moment but it was always clear to me that I didn’t want to stop there. I want to earn more. I’m very competitive and I want to be the best player I can, the best on the PGA Tour, in the world, we all want to win every week. It gave me a lot of confidence that I could win more. It was hard because that Sunday I would have liked to be in Chile and celebrate it with my family and friends and I couldn’t, I had to delay it, but it was fantastic.
Niemann’s best result in the majors was at the US Open last year (23rd), is it a tournament style that suits your game?
It is one of the most difficult tournaments of the year by far, they prepare the most difficult courses, with the long rough, the narrow fairways, everything more complicated. They want to see us suffer and win over par. You have to go mentally, it will be very difficult, bogeys will fall during the week, but I know that if I am in my best game I can have many ‘chances’ to win. If it is going to leave that week it will leave and if not, then it will be necessary to continue working for the next.
By the way, a curiosity, would you consider playing with a clock?
It would be hard for me to get used to playing with a watch. Two years ago he started the whoop, the performance bracelet, and I started wearing it. It is very comfortable because it is very close to the body and does not move. I got used to it and didn’t even realize it. This type of watch is almost impossible, but perhaps with a slightly tighter strap and with a lighter weight it is possible.
What memories do you have of the 2008 US Open that Tiger Woods won?
I saw it a few days ago on Golf Channel, they put it back on. It was amazing to see Tiger in action after the accident, even if it was on TV. It’s funny, but even knowing the result I got nervous in the tiebreaker and before. It was nice to see Tiger again.
What are your feelings in Torrey Pines?
I have played it several times. I won two junior world championships (2015 by one blow and 2016 by eight). Obviously, the field is very different from how he prepares for the US Open. At the Farmers I did well less on Sunday. It is going to play differently. I like the field, the weather is similar to that of Chile.
What memories do you have of your first Rolex watch?
I have the best story of all. One day we were having dinner and talking about my contract, the watch I wanted and it was the tournament Memorial Tournament from Jack Nicklaus, three years ago, just when I had just become a pro. The day after I did a clinic with Nicklaus, it was a spectacular afternoon, very fun, with a lot of advice and after that I was sitting in the changing room of the clubhouse waiting for dinner and they told me that Nicklaus wanted to talk to me for two minutes to give me some advice and I said clear here I hope. Vino sat next to me and said, Joaquín, you think I’m here to give you some advice, but no, I’m here to give you your first watch, the first Rolex. It was very special, he opened it, put it on my wrist and I will never forget it.
What did you think of Mickelson’s triumph in the PGA Championship?
I played a good PGA but I didn’t finish well on Sunday. See what Mickelson did, golf history, win a Grande again, there is nothing more special, the atmosphere that was generated in Torrey Pines was very beautiful and incredible.
How is your relationship with the Spanish golfers on the PGA Tour?
I played with Rafa two weeks ago, I have not played with Jon Rahm but we have eaten… They are fantastic, but with whom I have the most relationship is with Sergio García. I have played a lot with him, he has supported me a lot and he is very special. He has been kind to me from the beginning and every time I have had a question, he was there to give me his opinion. It is very good to have him here and to help you.
