Niemann 'Super Excited' To Receive Special Masters Invite

Joaquin Niemann was "super excited" to get a Masters invite after admitting trying to chase a spot at Augusta National by playing on the Asian Tour

Joaquin Niemann
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Paul Higham
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After getting the magical invite from Augusta National, Joaquin Niemann is "super excited" to be heading back to The Masters in April.

The Chilean was struggling to make the field for the first Major of the year thanks to his ranking tumbling since joining LIV Golf, but was one of three special invitees announced.

The 25-year-old has been in great form though, winning the Australian Open in December before shooting 59 and winning the opening LIV Golf event of the season at Mayakoba.

Niemann is teeing it up on the Asian Tour in the International Series Oman as he sought more ranking points to aid his case, but was delighted that in the end he didn't need them to get an invite to The Masters.

“It’s exciting, I was trying to chase that invite so it is nice that they called me yesterday – I am super excited with that news," Niemann said. 

"I obviously love that course at Augusta National and it is one of those courses you must be hitting it well off the tee and hitting it long.

"If I keep driving it well, I think it is going to serve me well and I’m looking forward to that week.”

It will be a fifth trip down Magnolia Lane for Niemann, who has followed a missed cut in his Masters debut with improving results of T40, T35 and T16 in his last three visits.

Joaquin Niemann at The Masters

Joaquin Niemann will play in his fourth straight Masters

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Ahead of The Masters, Niemann will follow-up playing in Oman with LIV Golf events in Jeddah and Hong Kong, along with the International Series in Macau as he prepares for Augusta.

“I’m looking forward for all those next three weeks, they will all give me good preparation for what’s coming next," he said.

"I like my chances and I want to play well. Obviously, I can’t say what’s going to happen, I have to go out there and grind it.”

Paul Higham
Paul Higham
Contributor

Paul Higham is a sports journalist with over 20 years of experience in covering most major sporting events for both Sky Sports and BBC Sport. He is currently freelance and covers the golf majors on the BBC Sport website.  Highlights over the years include covering that epic Monday finish in the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor and watching Rory McIlroy produce one of the most dominant Major wins at the 2011 US Open at Congressional. He also writes betting previews and still feels strangely proud of backing Danny Willett when he won the Masters in 2016 - Willett also praised his putting stroke during a media event before the Open at Hoylake. Favourite interviews he's conducted have been with McIlroy, Paul McGinley, Thomas Bjorn, Rickie Fowler and the enigma that is Victor Dubuisson. A big fan of watching any golf from any tour, sadly he spends more time writing about golf than playing these days with two young children, and as a big fair weather golfer claims playing in shorts is worth at least five shots. Being from Liverpool he loves the likes of Hoylake, Birkdale and the stretch of tracks along England's Golf Coast, but would say his favourite courses played are Kingsbarns and Portrush. 

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