5 wins on LIV is what Niemann has this season. So, calling him the best on LIV is justified, but in the world, it might be an overstretch. At least as per some people. Jon Rahm called him a “severely underrated” golfer and a “top-10 player in the world.” At the start of the season, Phil Mickelson called him World #1. Garry Williams, the host of  5 Clubs Golf, respectfully disagrees. “He’s played in 26 major championships and has one measly—and I mean measly—top 10,” Garry said, the disbelief evident in his voice.

Williams argued that success on LIV golf doesn’t automatically translate to an elite status in traditional, high-pressure tournaments. He questioned how Niemann, with no serious contention in majors, despite him thinking LIV is helping him perform better there, deserves top-tier recognition. The criticism didn’t end with stats—it drilled into what truly defines greatness in professional golf.

“You’ve got to get in the blender… within two to three shots of the lead in a major with nine holes to go,” Williams insisted. So far, Niemann has never faced that heat, not once in his entire major championship career. While five LIV wins in a season sound impressive, he asked the harder question: “How impressive is it?”

He pointed to the reduced format, adding, “He’s winning a bushel full of 54-hole events… but how impressive is it?” He stressed that 72-hole events test endurance, focus, and nerves in ways LIV Golf’s format simply can’t replicate. “Everybody knows there’s a difference,” he said, emphasizing that comparison to PGA wins isn’t apples to apples. Until Niemann performs under real major pressure, he argued, top-10 talk is premature and misleading.

Rahm’s praise didn’t land well with Gary as he questioned both the logic and timing of Rahm’s endorsement. “The idea that he’s a top-10 player in the world… sorry, he’s not,” Williams said in the recent episode of the 5 Clubs Podcast, flatly rejecting the claim. Niemann left the PGA Tour in 2022, just as many believed he was entering his breakout stretch. He showed promise, had elite tools, and seemed ready to contend at majors consistently.

Although Rahm’s words sparked the latest debate, Phil Mickelson has defended LIV golfers from day one. Mickelson consistently downplays criticism tied to OWGR rankings or major performances when assessing LIV talent. He believes LIV victories deserve equal recognition, regardless of format or field size.

“A win is a win,” he’s said before, arguing that critics unfairly discredit success outside the PGA Tour. Although he didn’t name Niemann directly this time, his stance still supports the broader case Rahm made. But Williams didn’t let that slide. He rejected the idea that all wins carry equal weight. He stressed that majors and 72-hole pressure define greatness, not team formats or 54-hole success.

That rebuke targeted more than Rahm—it pushed back on Mickelson’s long-standing defense of LIV legitimacy. By calling Niemann “underperforming, not underrated,” Williams challenged the core argument both stars have echoed for years.

After joining LIV, Joaquin’s ranking plummeted—largely due to LIV’s exclusion from world ranking points. As invites dried up, his chances to prove himself on the biggest stages became fewer and more crucial. “He’s played 26 majors and has one measly—and I mean measly—top 10,” Williams emphasized, pointing Niemann’s T-8 finish at the 2025 PGA Championship.. To him, those numbers matter more than peer praise or limited-field wins on LIV’s 54-hole setup. “Not to say he won’t… but that’s underperforming, not underrated,” he concluded, drawing a firm line on legacy.

Now, Niemann faces mounting pressure: prove himself in majors or remain a talent praised more by peers than performance. Rahm’s backing carries weight, but Williams countered that respect must be earned on Sunday afternoons at majors, not just on LIV Golf’s leaderboards. LIV’s renewed OWGR submission remains under review after its 2022 rejection over format and fairness concerns. Until then, players like Niemann need strong finishes in majors or invites from other qualifying events. Even Dustin Johnson’s ranking only improved after a T23 at The Open.

Rahm once criticized OWGR even before joining LIV, calling its metrics flawed and outdated. Still, Williams argued, “You’ve got to get in the blender… and Niemann hasn’t done that, not once.” Without top-10s in majors, praise even from Rahm won’t rewrite the narrative. Legacy, as Williams sees it, requires more than talent. It demands pressure-tested results on golf’s grandest stages.

Why Joaquín Niemann’s LIV Wins Don’t Rewrite His Major Legacy

Joaquín Niemann missed the cut at The Open. Critics wasted no time. Fans online labeled his major record “embarrassing” and questioned his top-10 hype. But LIV’s Torque GC didn’t stay silent. GC issued a bold statement on social media: “Vile lies are being spread about a world-class athlete who gives everything—always.” They defended Niemann’s talent and character and called out the media’s negativity. “We stand by Joaco,” the team added. Niemann now heads back to LIV with backing, but the major ghosts still follow.

This isn’t the first time Niemann has stumbled on golf’s biggest stage. He has now missed three cuts at The Open—2019, 2023, and 2025. His best result there remains a distant T53 in 2022. Those numbers hardly reflect the performance of someone often hailed as a breakout star. In total, he has just one top–10 finish in 26 majors, a lonely bright spot at this year’s PGA Championship. Each time, expectations rise. Each time, they crash. LIV may celebrate its 54-hole dominance, but major golf demands more. Endurance. Pressure. Four rounds of elite competition. And so far, Niemann hasn’t delivered when it counts.

Despite the missed cuts, support for Niemann hasn’t wavered, especially from fellow LIV stars like Jon Rahm, who recently reignited debate by praising his teammate. “Joaquin is severely underrated… one of the best players in the world,” Rahm insisted. His comments came just days after Niemann’s latest early exit from The Open. The timing raised eyebrows. Some called it loyalty; others saw wishful thinking. Either way, Rahm’s vote of confidence clashed sharply with Niemann’s major résumé. And while LIV circles backed the Chilean, critics questioned if praise alone can erase years of underperformance on golf’s biggest stages.