Double major winner Curtis Strange has cast doubt on Phil Mickelson’s assertion that Joaquin Niemann is currently the planet’s top golfer, but he does insist that the rising Chilean talent ought to be showcasing his skills on the PGA Tour. Niemann has emerged as a standout figure in LIV Golf, hitting a rich vein of form since joining the insurgent series. As the Torque GC leader, he bagged two victories on the LIV tour in 2024 and narrowly trailed behind Jon Rahm in the circuit’s overall rankings for the season.
This blistering performance streak has extended into 2025, with Niemann reigning at the apex of the LIV individual leaderboard after clinching victories in two out of the four opening events held in Singapore and Adelaide. These feats prompted Mickelson to lavish praise on his LIV cohort, heralding him as best player on the planet. He even suggested Niemann eclipses Scottie Scheffler, who Mickelson suspects won’t secure a PGA Tour victory prior to September’s Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black.
However, Strange is skeptical about the declarations of the six-time major champion, while acknowledging his appreciation for Niemann’s abilities.
Speaking of Mickelson’s statements, Strange remarked: “Phil Mickelson also said that Scottie Scheffler wouldn’t win a tournament before the Ryder Cup. I think take all of that with a grain of salt. I think Joaquin Niemann is a hell of a young player. I wish he was playing the DP World Tour or the [PGA] Tour. He needs to be playing over here.”
Strange believes that the 26-year-old has the potential to become one of the best players of his generation, but feels he needs to return to the PGA Tour to achieve this.
“He is the talent that, at the end of the day, 25 years from now, I would like to see his record put up against a lot of other people,” Strange added. “It’s not going to happen when you’re at LIV. Y’all know what I’m saying. He’s over there. We only see him four or five times a year, and it’s disappointing for all of us – those guys, I want to watch play.
“I miss watching them play. But they chose their – they made their decision, and that’s okay. But I think that the public and the TV people and all of us fans of the game would like to see those guys play more often on our tour. Not to let them back, don’t get me wrong, but I wish they were playing on our tour, not over there.”
Niemann will be aiming to secure his first major championship win next week when he tees off alongside the likes of Mickelson and Scheffler at the Masters. The Chilean has been given the chance to compete after receiving a special invitation from the bosses at Augusta National
