Niemann shoots 66, eyes aid fund
#SalvemosARafita translates to “Save, Rafita.” That hashtag is the mission this week for 22-year-old Chilean golfer Joaquin Niemann, who has promised to donate his winnings at the Mayakoba Golf Classic to help pay for the medical needs of his young relative.
It could be a big check if Niemann can maintain his early pace. He made an eagle and three birdies on his second nine to shoot 5-under 66 at El Camaleon Golf Club on a windy, rainy Thursday on the Yucatan Peninsula and was in a tie for second with Argentine Emiliano Grillo and Tom Hoge after the opening round of the PGA Tour tournament. Russell Knox is the leader by one stroke with 65 after making five birdies in a sixhole stretch.
A few days after Niemann’s 1-month-old cousin, Rafita Calderon, was born, her Aunt Carola, who is a pediatrician, observed that the baby displayed symptoms of hypotonia. Tests revealed that Calderon suffered from Type 1 Spinal Muscular Atrophy, which affects about 1 in every 10,000 babies born every year. Symptoms include weak muscle tone and trouble breathing and swallowing, and those diagnosed with the rare genetic disease have a life expectancy of two years. Calderon desperately needs a one-time injection of Zolgensma, a drug that according to Niemann costs $2.1 million in his home country.
Niemann posted an Instagram story in support of his young relative and created a Go Fund Me page that already has raised more than $120,000. At the RSM Classic two weeks ago, he promised to contribute $5,000 for every birdie and $10,000 for every eagle in addition to his earnings, which totaled $152,450. This week, Niemann is wearing a ribbon on the top of his hat to raise awareness of Rafita’s plight, and he isn’t alone. “I’ve got a bag with a lot of them, so yeah, just put it on the first tee and the locker and the 10th tee so (players) can grab it,” Niemann said. “Having all the support from all the people here on Tour is really amazing. ... We’re fighting for him.”
Niemann became the first Chilean to win on the Tour at the 2019 A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier.
Grillo, 28, also is seeking his second career Tour title and first since 2015. Playing in his trademark aggressive style, Grillo rattled off four birdies in a row beginning at the fifth and drained a 20-foot par putt at his final hole of the day to shoot 66 and extend his streak of par-or-better rounds in the event to 17-for-17.
Niemann didn’t need to be told what a first prize of $1,296,000 this week would do to help efforts to get his relative the medical attention he needs. “It would be nice to see,” Niemann said.