"
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2023-05-22T15:16:44Z"
data-video-section="business"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/business/2023/05/22/golf-in-california-jasmine-pkg-05200130aseg1.cnn"
data-branding-key="golf"
data-video-slug="Golf in California Jasmine pkg 05200130ASEG1"
data-first-publish-slug="Golf in California Jasmine pkg 05200130ASEG1"
data-video-tags="beaches,california,continents and regions,destinations and attractions,domestic alerts,domestic-us news,golf,golf courses,iab-golf,iab-sports,international alerts,international-us news,north america,pebble beach,points of interest,southwestern united states,sports and recreation,the americas,united states"
data-details="">
"
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2023-04-10T14:48:01Z"
data-video-section="business"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/media/2023/04/08/golf-digest-open-amateur-tournament-riddell-vpx.cnn"
data-branding-key=""
data-video-slug="golf digest open amateur tournament riddell vpx"
data-first-publish-slug="golf digest open amateur tournament riddell vpx"
data-video-tags="alliances and partnerships,business and industry sectors,business operations,business, economy and trade,company activities and management,company strategy,domestic alerts,domestic-business,golf,iab-advertising industry,iab-business,iab-business administration,iab-business and finance,iab-business banking & finance,iab-business operations,iab-golf,iab-industries,iab-large business,iab-marketing and advertising,iab-mergers and acquisitions,iab-sports,international alerts,international-business,marketing and advertising,sports and recreation"
data-details="">
"
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2022-06-20T10:50:56Z"
data-video-section="sport"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/sports/2022/06/20/matt-fitzpatrick-us-open-debut-major-spt-intl-spc.cnn"
data-branding-key="golf"
data-video-slug="matt fitzpatrick us open debut major spt intl spc"
data-first-publish-slug="matt fitzpatrick us open debut major spt intl spc"
data-video-tags="continents and regions,golf,massachusetts,matt fitzpatrick,misc organizations,north america,northeastern united states,pga tour,private clubs,sports and recreation,sports figures,sports organizations and teams,the americas,united states"
data-details="">
Video Ad Feedback
CNN sits down with 2022 US Open winner Matt Fitzpatrick
"
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2022-06-01T13:51:10Z"
data-video-section="sport"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/sports/2022/06/01/patrick-mahomes-the-match-golf-tom-brady-spt-intl.cnn"
data-branding-key="golf"
data-video-slug="patrick mahomes the match golf tom brady spt intl"
data-first-publish-slug="patrick mahomes the match golf tom brady spt intl"
data-video-tags=""
data-details="">
Video Ad Feedback
Patrick Mahomes on the latest edition of 'The Match'
"
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2022-03-18T10:12:05Z"
data-video-section="sport"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/sports/2022/03/17/georgia-hall-saudi-ladies-international-golf-spt-intl-spc.cnn"
data-branding-key="golf"
data-video-slug="georgia hall saudi ladies international golf spt intl spc"
data-first-publish-slug="georgia hall saudi ladies international golf spt intl spc"
data-video-tags="continents and regions,england,europe,georgia,golf,golf events,middle east,middle east and north africa,north america,northern europe,professional tennis,saudi arabia,solheim cup,southeastern united states,sports and recreation,sports events,tennis,the americas,united kingdom,united states,women's professional tennis"
data-details="">
Video Ad Feedback
British Open champion Georgia Hall hungry for more major glory
"
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2022-03-17T16:24:39Z"
data-video-section="sport"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/sports/2022/03/17/carlota-ciganda-saudi-ladies-international-golf-spt-intl-spc.cnn"
data-branding-key="golf"
data-video-slug="carlota ciganda saudi ladies international golf spt intl spc"
data-first-publish-slug="carlota ciganda saudi ladies international golf spt intl spc"
data-video-tags="chevron corp,companies,continents and regions,europe,golf,middle east,middle east and north africa,saudi arabia,southern europe,spain,sports and recreation"
data-details="">
Video Ad Feedback
Long drive specialist Carlota Ciganda targeting 'dream' first major
"
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2022-03-17T16:23:37Z"
data-video-section="sport"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/sports/2022/03/17/steph-kyriacou-saudi-ladies-international-golf-spt-intl-spc.cnn"
data-branding-key="golf"
data-video-slug="steph kyriacou saudi ladies international golf spt intl spc"
data-first-publish-slug="steph kyriacou saudi ladies international golf spt intl spc"
data-video-tags="continents and regions,golf,lpga,middle east,middle east and north africa,saudi arabia,sports and recreation,sports organizations and teams"
data-details="">
Video Ad Feedback
Steph Kyriacou: Rookie of the year set to take her game to the next level
"
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2022-02-25T14:22:07Z"
data-video-section="sport"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/sports/2022/02/25/saudi-international-highlights-harold-varner-iii-living-golf-spt-intl-spc.cnn"
data-branding-key="golf"
data-video-slug="saudi international highlights harold varner iii living golf spt intl spc"
data-first-publish-slug="saudi international highlights harold varner iii living golf spt intl spc"
data-video-tags="bubba watson,continents and regions,golf,middle east,middle east and north africa,misc organizations,private clubs,saudi arabia,sports and recreation,sports figures"
data-details="">
Video Ad Feedback
Harold Varner III holes incredible 92-foot eagle putt to win Saudi International
Since announcing himself on the world stage with a PGA Tour victory as a rookie in 2019, Chile’s Joaquin Niemann has established himself as one of golf’s most exciting prospects.
It’s been a whirlwind six months on the course for the Santiago native and a series of outstanding results have seen the 22-year-old break into the world’s top-30 for the first time.
It’s events at home in Chile, however, that will define this past year for Niemann.
“My cousin was born in October and in the beginning, it was amazing,” Niemann tells CNN Living Golf’s Shane O’Donoghue.
However, joyful video calls home to celebrate the arrival of a new family member were short lived.
“After a couple of weeks, we found out that he had a really rare disease … in the beginning, we had no idea what it was and over time, we figured out that it was bad.”
Niemann’s new-born cousin, Rafita Calderon, had been diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), a rare inherited disorder stemming from a defective gene that leads to the death of nerve cells responsible for moving muscles that allow us to walk, talk, breathe and swallow, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
Niemann plays his shot from the tenth tee during the second round of The Honda Classic.
Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images North America/Getty Images
Calderon required a one-time intravenous shot of the gene therapy medicine Zolgensma, labeled “the world’s most expensive drug.”
As many as 1 in 8,000 babies is estimated to be affected by one of the genetic mutations that causes it. That includes about 450 to 500 infants in the US per year, according to a Novartis – the parent company which markets Zolgensma – statement.
The treatment works by replacing a working copy of the defective gene into the nerve cells before they die and symptoms develop.
“We started getting really worried about it and a little desperate because the only medicine and the only cure to help him live for more than two years would cost $2.1 million – we were going out of our minds,” explains Niemann.
“In the beginning we were like: ‘Oh my god, how are we going to do this? How are we going to get the money? Because if we don’t, he’s going to die.’”
With Calderon’s father leading the fundraising efforts in Chile, the country’s best-known golfer set about doing everything he could from his home away from home, the PGA Tour.
“Rafita started getting a lot of attention on social media in Chile and they made a lot of money, but it still wasn’t enough, so I decided to start donating money during golf tournaments,” says Niemann.
Initially donating $5,000 per birdie and $10,000 per eagle on top of the $152,450 he earned at the RSM Classic in November, by the time December’s Mayakoba Classic rolled around, news of Niemann’s fundraising efforts had spread and fellow tour pros including the likes of Justin Thomas and Rickie Fowler could be seen sporting white ribbons in support of the cause.
Niemann wears a white ribbon to support the fund raising efforts for life saving Spinal Muscular Atrophy treatment for his infant cousin.
Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images
“To get so much support from the PGA Tour, from the players and on social media was amazing. Now we’re in March and we got the medicine a month ago, it feels amazing to achieve something like that,” said Niemann.
“With one shot he can create the protein to get muscles, he’s doing a lot better now and he can move … so hopefully he’ll be alright,” he says.
With thoughts elsewhere, Niemann could have been forgiven for losing focus on his game in recent months. However, with a series of excellent performances to start the 2021 season including a second place at The Tournament of Champions in January, he’s in the form of his life and has achieved a career-high ranking of 28.
Following his own path
Growing up in a country where football rules, it’s been an unlikely journey for the Chilean, but one he looks back on fondly
“I started playing when I was probably around two or three years-old … I had three plastic clubs that I would carry around my house all the time, I could barely walk and I was swinging these clubs,” he laughs.
It didn’t take long for Niemann’s natural talent to catch the attention of the Chilean Golf Federation and he earned a scholarship to the prestigious Athletic Study Centre in Santiago.
“There were a lot of soccer players, tennis players and I would only have school for around three hours from 8 a.m’-11 a.m. … After that, I was just going to the golf course to play, I think that was the time where I got really good.”
Niemann was soon earning invites to play overseas and began to rack up wins, reaching the top of the world amateur rankings in May 2017, a position he would hold for 44 weeks until he turned professional in 2018.
Niemann reacts after winning the Greenbrier Classic, his first PGA Tour victory.
Rob Carr/Getty Images North America/Getty Images
Walking into a PGA Tour locker room at the age of 19 could be a daunting prospect for any young player. Fortunately for Niemann, he shared an agent with Sergio Garcia, one of the most respected veterans on Tour and a Masters winner, who went out of his way to help the youngster settle in.
“In the beginning I was feeling a little weird, I didn’t know where the locker room was, I didn’t know where the tee-box was, where to register, I didn’t know anything … He helped me a lot, getting in to practice rounds, getting to know more of the professional guys … I was a little bit scared of being professional but he made it feel more friendly,” Niemann explains.
With the support of Garcia, it wasn’t long before the Chilean began to hit his stride. He earned an outstanding win in his rookie season in 2020, claiming the Greenbrier Classic by a remarkable six shots to become the youngest international winner on the PGA Tour since 1923.
With the 22-year-old now playing some of the best golf of his career, many are tipping the youngster to kick on and add to his PGA Tour win cabinet this season.
One tournament in particular this year stands out for the Chilean, who, like most of his compatriots, has an enormous sense of pride in his homeland.
Niemann poses with the trophy after winning the Greenbrier Classic.
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images North America/Getty Images
“The Olympics, for me being from Chile is big. I don’t think everybody in golf looks at it the same way as I do, being from a small country, it would be huge for Chile to have a golf medal
“Having the opportunity to play in the Olympics and being able to win a gold medal would be a dream come true for me and my country,” he explains.
‘Chi, chi, chi, le, le, le, viva Chile!’ is a chant that has historically been reserved for the formidable national football team. With the entire country behind him and his star continuing to rise, don’t be surprised if this becomes the soundtrack to many a PGA Tour Sunday in the future.