Joaquin Niemann started the 2024 Paris Olympics men’s golf competition strong, carding a first-round 5-under 66.
2024 Paris Olympics: Joaquin Niemann powerful 1st round score puts him in medal contention early
Niemann came out red hot at Le Golf National for the first round of the 2024 Paris Olympics men’s golf competition.
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
An eagle at the par-5 3rd kicked off his day, as he also made two birdies at the 6th and 8th holes. The Chilean golfer made five straight pars after that but got to 6-under when he made back-to-back birdies on 14 and 15.
Niemann almost kept a clean scorecard but settled for a 66 when he bogeyed the par-4 18th.
“It was a good start. I played solid for the whole day,” Niemann said after his round. My problem was two tee shots on the last two holes, but other than that, it was a great day. I gave myself a lot of chances and hit good iron shots. Good day.”
Photo by EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP via Getty Images
He is among the handful of golfers who also participated in the 2021 Tokyo Games. Niemann finished 10th that year. He looks to build off that experience by getting on the podium in 2024.
“I had some expectations after Japan. We didn’t have any crowds,” he explained. I was excited to see what was going to happen here. I was also surprised there were a lot of people out here. Victor [Perez] was in front of me, and you could tell how they were cheering for me. It was pretty cool for the first day.”
Over 25,000 fans were at Le Golf National for the first day of the men’s golf competition, and they brought the noise. He explained it feels different from 2021, which it should, considering there were no fans in Tokyo because of the COVID-19 virus.
Niemann is also no stranger to representing his country of Chile as an amateur, as he won the 2018 Latin America Amateur Championship. To represent his home country means a lot to him.
“I grew up representing my country, using these colors, and having my flag on my side,” Niemann said. So it does feel like back in the day when I was able to play for my country and with teammates. It does feel like back then. It does feel more special than any other golf tournament.”
A gold medal would also get Niemann into all four majors next season. He participated in three of the four majors but had to get a special exemption to play the Masters and U.S. Open in 2024.
However, Niemann would not go into too much detail about that.
“Yeah, obviously, I’m trying to win, and whatever comes after that, it comes,” he explained. I feel like this is the Olympics, and I’ve got to focus more on winning medals than winning my way into the majors.”
Regardless, he is off to a strong start in men’s golf competition, sitting inside the Top 5. For the second round, he will play alongside Alejandro Tosti of Argentina and Thorbjørn Olesen of Denmark at 5:06 a.m. ET.
Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. For more golf coverage, follow us @_PlayingThrough on all major social platforms. You can also follow her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @golf_girl_sl.
