Jon Rahm: Joaquin Niemann 'undoubtedly' top 10 player in the world

Jon Rahm says Joaquin Niemann is 'undoubtedly' a top 10 player in the world. 

The 26-year-old Chilean cruised to his fifth LIV Golf title of the year with a dominant performance last week at the JCB Golf & Country Club in Staffordshire. 

Niemann, who parted ways with his coach and caddie after missing the cut at The Open two weeks ago, held off a spirited charge from former Masters champion Bubba Watson down the stretch. 

Rahm told reporters the former PGA Tour pro is one of the best players in the world, even if the rankings suggest otherwise. 

Niemann is currently 98th in the Official World Golf Ranking whilst Data Golf - which takes into LIV performances - places the golfer 19th, just ahead of US Open champion JJ Spaun and Scotland's Robert MacIntyre. 

"I've seen all those strokes gained rankings," Rahm said. "I still don't understand. He's won five times here. How is he behind so many of us? 

"I don't know the numbers. I don't know. My guess is obviously it's majors, events outside of LIV that may be pushing him back."

Rahm does have a point. Niemann missed the cut at the US Open in June and also missed out on playing the weekend at The Open two weeks ago.

A second-round 74 at Royal Portrush saw Niemann miss the cut by one stroke. 

Footage showed Niemann angrily stomping on his Tour bag as he trudged off the course. 

He responded by sacking both his caddie and coach. 

Niemann produced a top 30 finish at The Masters in April and shared eighth at the PGA Championship. 

"It's not a true reflection," Rahm added. "He is undoubtedly a top-10 player in the world right now. I'm saying at that conservatively."

Rahm's teammate Tyrrell Hatton agreed that Niemann's performances beggar belief. 

"Five wins in, what, ten events, is unbelievable," Hatton said. 

"I mean, to even win one is hard enough. So just shows the level and the consistency that he's able to keep producing.

"But, yeah, doesn't really have a weakness in his game. He hits the ball long ways. Wedges are great. Short game is unbelievable.

"Yeah clearly he's holing far too many putts for my liking anyway. No, he's playing amazing. It's very impressive."

Joaquin Niemann explains changes to his team

Niemann decided to sack his long-time caddie Gary Matthews after a disappointing display at The Open. 

Matthews had looped for Niemann since 2020 but the golfer felt it was time for a change. 

He also parted ways with his golf coach Eduardo Miguel and is yet to confirm his new instructor. 

Niemann said 'it is what it is' when he was asked about the shock split in his pre-tournament news conference last week. 

"I'm really grateful for them, for the two people that they are not working with me anymore on the team, but it's part of it, and I feel like I was pretty frustrated at the beginning of this week after a bad result, obviously, at The Open as well and all the rest kind of going on," he said.