Comparison is the thief of joy, but for this LIV golfer, it was the thief of his caddie – ending a 5-year partnership. Why are we talking in metaphors? Well, it all started with Phil Mickelson’s March “hot takes,” wherein the Lefty compared Joaquin Niemann with Scottie Scheffler, claiming Niemann was “Top 5? Try #1,” and “Here’s a hot take: Does Scottie win in 2025 before the Ryder Cup? I don’t think so.” The stats, however, worked against both Phil Mickelson and Niemann, so much so that the latter’s recent caddie change isn’t surprising.

Before we look at the current situation, here are some stats to explain the recent Joaquin Niemann and Scottie Scheffler comparison. Despite his four LIV Golf wins, Joaquin Niemann registered his second major missed cut at The Open. Overall, his major record remains thin, with his best finish in his last 25 major appearances coming at the 2025 PGA Championship (T8). On the other hand, Scottie Scheffler has 16 top-10 finishes in his 25 major appearances, including four wins. So, at this point, fans expected a redemption in Niemann’s game.

And he has kicked it off with some internal team changes. Well, as per the most recent update from Pro Golf Critic, Joaquin Niemann has cut ties with his caddie, Gary Matthews. The two started working together in 2022, long before Niemann joined LIV Golf and saw his OWGR points plummet. With Matthews’s 20 years of experience, they’ve had some success, but their five years of partnership apparently weren’t enough.

Now, when Joaquin Niemann tees off at the 2025 LIV Golf United Kingdom, he will have Diego Salinas on his bag. Salinas, as per the same update, is a friend of Niemann and a pro who plays on the Chilean Golf Tour. As per the same update, Niemann is also set to replace his swing coaches, a list that includes Eduardo Miquel. Though their partnership has ended, Niemann did admit in 2023, “he helped me. He’s taught me to care about me, what I do, and to trust it.” 

However, it’s not clear how long Diego Salinas and Joaquin Niemann will keep working together. On the other hand, Niemann is also planning to make some (more) changes to his gameplay this season. Yes, and it makes perfect sense.

Joaquinn Niemann is working to become the best, even mentally

Despite his comparisons with Scottie Scheffler, it is undeniable that Joaquin Niemann has emerged as one of LIV Golf’s standout performers, despite being one of the younger players in the field. The 26-year-old Chilean golfer has continued to roll in the results on the greens, with two wins and eight other top-10 finishes in the 2024 LIV Golf season. He has also claimed one Asian Tour victory at the Saudi International. In 2025, he has four wins and four top 10 finishes and ranks 1st in the LIV Golf standings.

The point? He is on fire. And competing alongside LIV Golf’s big names has fueled Niemann’s desire to match their achievements. Early this season, he stated, “It’s nice because I feel like there is a lot that I can learn from them… It’s also something to admire and something to look up to and something that I want to accomplish.” 

To improve his game, Niemann has focused on his mental preparation, simulating high-pressure situations in training sessions. “If I put myself in those situations when I’m practicing, I can almost feel the pressure. Whenever I’m having the actual pressure, it’s something that I’ve already done… When you’re on the course and things don’t go your way, the only thing you can control is the way you look and think, so that’s something that I always try to work on,” he explained.

So, in conclusion, are his comparisons with Scottie Scheffler unfair? At this point, indeed they are. However, that doesn’t change the truth that Niemann is a great player in his own right. And, maybe, his recent team changes will help him propel to even great height? Who knows!