Xander Schauffele Praises Joaquin Niemann’s LIV Dominance Ahead of Augusta Masters
Xander Schauffele is determined to make the most of his prime years, and it seems Joaquin Niemann is on a similar mission. After a sensational 2024 season that saw Schauffele rise to World No. 2 and capture two major titles, the American golfer is back in the spotlight as he prepares for the Masters at Augusta. Speaking to the media ahead of the practice rounds, Schauffele took a moment to commend Niemann’s impressive performances on the LIV Golf Tour.
Xander Schauffele’s 2024 was the 6th best Major Championship season (+57.97) since 1997.#themasters pic.twitter.com/1ztq2BKjiN
— Rick Gehman (@RickRunGood) April 7, 2025
Niemann has been a standout in LIV Golf this season, having already secured victories in two of the five events and currently leading the individual points list. He’s managed to outpace even some of the league’s biggest names, such as Brooks Koepka and Jon Rahm. Schauffele acknowledged Niemann’s red-hot form, saying, “Joaquín is unbelievable. He’s been winning at a pretty decent clip on the LIV Tour. Joaquín knows he’s been winning a lot more events than I have, but you’re always a lot closer than you think… it’s never anything that’s that fancy.” His remarks reflected both respect for Niemann and insight into the mental challenges of competing at the highest level.
Although Schauffele had to sit out a significant portion of the 2025 season due to a rib injury, he remains one of the leading contenders for the Green Jacket. His return to competitive play has been met with high expectations, and many still see him as a strong favorite to win at Augusta this year. His advice to Niemann—about staying focused and understanding how close success can be—might prove invaluable for the young Chilean golfer as he aims to secure his first major championship.
Niemann, in turn, holds Schauffele in high regard. He sees Schauffele as an example of a player who finally broke through to win majors later in his career, rather than as a young prodigy. Schauffele’s own path to success included years of near-misses—eleven top-10 finishes in 26 major appearances—before he finally clinched his first major victory in 2024 after turning 30. That year, he didn’t stop at one; he went on to win two majors and finished in the top ten in the other two, marking a career-defining season.
Now, as both golfers look to make their mark at Augusta, the question remains: can Niemann’s LIV Tour dominance carry over into the majors, or will Schauffele’s experience and resilience make him the man to beat once again? The Masters may soon reveal the answer.