Chilean golfer Joaquin Niemann sets his eyes on LIV Golf

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Joaquin Niemann of Chile was headed to Boston on Monday for the next LIV Golf event, which would give the Saudi-funded league its youngest PGA Tour winner as it fills out its roster for the rest of the inaugural season.

"Going but has not signed it yet," Carlos Rodriguez, his manager at GSE Worldwide, said in a text to The Associated Press.

The 23-year-old Niemann, who is No. 19 in the world ranking, was the most prominent name mentioned in various reports over the weekend to leave the PGA Tour. The most notable was British Open champion Cameron Smith, which The Daily Telegraph reported three weeks ago.

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Matt Fitzpatrick, of England, left, speaks with Joaquin Niemann, of Chile, on the 18th green during the second round of the Tour Championship golf tournament at East Lake Golf Club, Friday, Aug. 26, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy led a private meeting among top players on Aug. 17 during the BMW Championship in which they discussed a new tournament model for the PGA Tour. Niemann took part in that meeting, and he would be the only one of the 23 players in attendance to defect.

The move would not be a surprise, mostly because Niemann’s closest friends in golf already have joined LIV Golf. Sergio Garcia is a mentor. Carlos Ortiz of Mexico is his best friend in golf and they often stay in the same house and bring their own chef.

Niemann had been contemplating an offer since the start of the year. But early plans for the rival league were stalled in February with Phil Mickelson’s derogatory comments about the Saudis and the PGA Tour, even saying his end