Joaquin Niemann wasted little time in making his mark as a professional.Having turned pro this week at the Valero Texas Open, the former top-ranked amateur made the most of a sponsor invite by closing with rounds of 67-67 over the weekend at TPC San Antonio, including birdies on each of his final three holes during the final round. At 12 under, he finished the week alone in sixth place, five shots behind Andrew Landry, and took home a check of $223,200 in his pro debut."I mean, I was playing good. I never thought I was going to finish how I played this week, but I can't be more happy than this," Niemann told reporters. "Just try to keep it up and hope to play well for the next weeks."The 19-year-old Chilean had plans to turn pro earlier this year, but then he won the Latin American Amateur which brought with it a spot in the Masters as long as he remained an amateur. But now he's off to a fast start on the play-for-pay scene, having finished the week ahead of noted veterans like Ryan Moore, Billy Horschel and Brandt Snedeker.Only days into a blossoming pro career, Niemann is hardly short on confidence.
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"I feel like a veteran right now, I feel like a Tour player now," Niemann said. "I know I can beat these guys, and just going to wait for my week and try to win."In addition to the six-figure check, Niemann also earned 100 non-member FedExCup points which will help in his quest to earn status for the 2018-19 season. He needs at least 269 non-member points to unlock special temporary membership, which would allow him to accept unlimited sponsor invites for the rest of the season.At worst, his current point total likely guarantees him a spot in the Web.com Tour Finals this fall where he can vie for a PGA Tour card. Niemann has sponsor invites lined up for the Wells Fargo Championship, AT&T Byron Nelson and Memorial Tournament, but thanks to his top-10 finish in San Antonio he won't have to use the second of his allotted seven invites at Quail Hollow in two weeks."I think this is going to give me a lot of confidence to try to do my card for this year," Niemann said. "Thing is I've got a couple more tournaments coming, and I just can't wait for it."
SAN ANTONIO: Former world number one amateur JoaquÃn Niemann made a brilliant professional debut when he finished sixth at the Valero Texas Open on Sunday. The 19-year-old from Chile became the
Getty Images. Joaquin Niemann wasted little time in making his mark as a professional. Having turned pro this week at the Valero Texas Open, the former top-ranked amateur made the most of a sponsor invite by closing with rounds of 67-67 over the weekend at TPC San Antonio, including birdies on each of his final three holes during the final round.
Joaquin Niemann finishes sixth in PGA Tour debut - golf.com
Nobody leaving TPC San Antonio on Sunday was happier than Andrew Landry. Winning your first PGA Tour title will have the effect. But Joaquin Niemann's emotions weren't that much different after finishing sixth in his professional debut this past week.
Golf: Chilean Niemann finishes sixth in stellar professional
Prior to Niemann, the last player to finish inside the top-10 in his first tour start as a professional at the Valero Texas Open was Anthony Kim, who finished T-2 in 2006. Niemann, the No.1-ranked amateur at the end of last year, had played in three professional events as an amateur, including the 2017 US Open and the Masters earlier this month.
Joaquin Niemann finishes sixth in pro debut, confident a PGA
Golf: Chilean Niemann finishes sixth in stellar professional debut 2 Min Read (Reuters) - Former world number one amateur Joaquin Niemann made a brilliant professional debut when he finished sixth
Chilean Niemann finishes sixth in stellar professional debut
Joaquin Niemann dazzled in his pro debut, shooting 67-67 over the weekend to finish alone in sixth place at the Valero Texas Open.
Joaquin Niemann finishes sixth in pro debut, confident a PGA
Joaquin Niemann Finishes Sixth at Valero Texas Open in Pro Debut | by Golf News Joaquin Niemann wasted little time in making his mark as a professional.
Niemann finishes sixth at Valero in pro debut - chatsports.com
Joaquin Niemann finishes sixth in pro debut, confident a PGA Tour card isn't far away The former top-ranked amateur finished sixth at the Valero Texas Open with back-to-back 67s on the weekend and
Joaquin Niemann Finishes Sixth at Valero Texas Open in Pro
Joaquin Niemann made a splash in his pro debut. The 19-year-old closed the Valero Texas Open with a five-under 67 on Sunday in San Antonio, good enough for a sixth-place finish and a $223,200
Joaquin Niemann finishes sixth in pro debut, confident a US
Niemann finishes sixth at Valero in pro debut - golfchannel.com
RELATED: Joaquin Niemann signs with Ping, Adidas ahead of pro debut. Prior to Niemann, the last player to finish inside the top 10 in his first tour start as a professional at the Valero Texas
Joaquin Niemann finishes sixth in pro debut, confident a PGA
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