September 10, (THEWILL) – Joaquin Niemann has criticised the Presidents Cup ban on LIV Golf players, stating it prevents the best golfers from competing in the team event at Royal Montreal this September. The Chilean, ranked second in LIV’s individual standings, expressed his disappointment at being unable to participate.
Unlike the 2023 Ryder Cup, which included LIV player Brooks Koepka, the Presidents Cup will not feature any golfers from the Saudi-backed circuit. The US PGA Tour, which organises the event, banned LIV players from its competitions following the breakaway league’s launch in 2022.
Niemann argued that the International team could be stronger with LIV players included. The US team has dominated the Presidents Cup, winning 12 out of 14 events, with their sole loss occurring in 1998 at Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Australia.
The golf world remains divided despite ongoing talks between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. A framework agreement aimed at resolving the split expired at the end of 2023, with no new deal reached.
The 2024 Presidents Cup is scheduled for September 26-29. The previous edition in 2022 saw the US team defeat the Internationals 17.5 to 12.5 at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
