LIV GOLF SINGAPORE

March 10, 2026

Joaquin Niemann

Sentosa Golf Club

Torque GC

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Let's welcome to the media center Joaquín Niemann, captain of Torque GC. Joaquín, welcome back to Sentosa. You return this week as the defending individual champion from LIV Golf Singapore. Take us back to that win last year and what that victory meant for you.

JOAQUÍN NIEMANN: First of all, I'm really excited to be back here in Sentosa. I think it's one of the most challenging golf courses that we play throughout the year. I think I played one of my best golf last year right here, so it's good to be back and feel the air through the community, feel the heat, and see how good this course is.

The greens are in such good shape. You feel like you're on an artist when you see the greens. You've got to see the lines, try to get a feel and see the lines, try to make them from long distance, big breaking puts, so it's a lot of fun.

Q. You talked about the course. What are some of the keys to success around here and managing, whether it's the weather conditions but also just the demands that are on the course?

JOAQUÍN NIEMANN: Yeah, I think there's a lot of really demanding tee shots. I think it's going to be key to hitting it good off the tee with 3-woods, 7-woods. I think you hit a lot of different shots off the tee, and it's going to be the key for this week. There's a lot of tough tee shots. Yeah, I think that would be the main thing. I think that's something that I did really well last year.

Q. Joaco, what's the challenge of going from a course that's 6,700 yards to immediately playing one that's 700 yards longer?

JOAQUÍN NIEMANN: Yeah, I like it here a lot better. I feel like more than the course, I feel like different type of greens. I felt like the greens at Hong Kong, they weren't my favorite. I felt like it was hard to judge the speed, some uphill putts into the grain. They were super grainy. It was just hard to get adjusted to it. Here, like I said before, I feel like there's a lot more delicate putts out there, and I feel like I'm more used to that. Yeah, hopefully have a great week on the greens.

Q. I wanted to ask you a question about winning in different countries. You've won in six different countries, including here. How much do you take pride in being able to win at various courses across the globe as opposed to some guys' careers who may have only won in one or two different countries?

JOAQUÍN NIEMANN: Yeah, it's something that I've really enjoyed since I was a junior player. We got to play all over the globe, different type of grass, different type of greens, different weather, different layouts, different type of courses. I feel like I grew up my whole career, my whole junior career playing on all these different type of courses, different grasses. I feel like it prepared me to be a really complete player. I do know when I'm playing my best, I can win on any type of golf course.

I mean, I've just got to put my game a little bit more sharp and get ready for this week.

Q. Rahm was obviously back in the winner's circle last week. What's it been like to battle him these past two years? I'm sure it's enjoyable, but it's obviously very competitive between you two.

JOAQUÍN NIEMANN: Yeah, it's really competitive for sure. I think Jon is one of the best players in the world. He's been playing amazing golf for the last probably 10 years. To have been able to battle against him the last few years has been awesome for me, just challenged me a lot. Every time you have competition in front of you, it just makes you and pushes you to be better and do things better and work harder.

Yeah, it's a big challenge. A lot of work to do, also. He had a great start this year. I had a little slower pace this time, but I know I've got a lot of weeks to get back to it.

Q. Which aspects of your game do you think suit this golf course?

JOAQUÍN NIEMANN: I think everything when it's in the right place really fits my game and my eye.

Q. How does it feel to come back to this golf course as the defending champion?

JOAQUÍN NIEMANN: Yeah, it feels nice. I keep looking outside because the golf course is right there. It's a nice view, really nice conditions. I just love it here. I've got really good memories, as well. It's nice to be here, nice to be back in a place where you have a lot of good memories. Last year also, we almost had a good finish as a team. We were pretty high on the leaderboard. Yeah, I think this year we start the year really strong with the four of us playing good golf.

I think anytime we can have the first team win with Abraham, it will be pretty special.

Q. Did you play the course today?

JOAQUÍN NIEMANN: Yeah.

Q. Did you see a different wind direction than we had last year, and if so, how does that change the way the golf course plays?

JOAQUÍN NIEMANN: I think it was kind of similar. But the forecast, I think it's going to be the same wind for the next few days.

It depends on the wind, obviously, but I don't really remember what it was last year. It wasn't too windy also. Obviously a little bit of wind is going to make a little difference, but I don't think it's going to get that windy. Hopefully I'm right.

Q. Last year at this time you had already won multiple times. Is there part of you that almost subconsciously thinks -- because golf is really hard to stay in elite form for so long, that maybe peaking later in the season towards major season you could play your best golf at a different time of the year?

JOAQUÍN NIEMANN: Yeah, 100 percent. I know my game is there. I didn't have the start that I had last year, which after that season that I had and winning five times, usually expectations are there every time.

I feel like I've just got to stay in my lane, keep working what I need to work on, keep doing my process, and I know if I keep doing the same thing, it's a matter of time.

Q. You haven't gotten a win yet this season; what do you think is missing, or what are you still looking for in your game?

JOAQUÍN NIEMANN: I mean, it's not like I'm looking to anything. I just need to improve a little bit on everything. I think it's just one of those things that this sport is the way it works. Sometimes it's going one direction, sometimes you're going the other direction. I feel like it's just putting the pieces together and taking a little bit of expectations out of the side, play my golf, play free, and enjoy being out there.

I really enjoy playing golf. I really enjoy playing in these countries, playing on these courses with this competition. Everything is set to enjoy it, and I know I play my best golf here, so it's nice to be back also in Singapore.