Now he is four shots off the lead after rounds of 66-69 at the Australian Open.

It is crazy to think that one of the best young talents on the planet has gone practically unnoticed in two events that have struggled for international quality in recent years.

He wasn't a tournament invite like fellow South American Jhonattan Vegas or the hyped-up club pro Michael Block, who is flirting with the cut line at the time of writing after touching red numbers yesterday with a favourable draw at The Lakes. 

The Chilean got in via category 7 – top-100 in the Official World Golf Rankings at the close of entries. Niemann's ranking (70) has slipped drastically – and is frankly not accurate – and will only worsen with LIV players not being afforded world ranking points next year.

"Obviously, that's on my mind, to try to get some world ranking (points) for the Olympics. I don't think I'm going to be in the majors, but maybe if I have a good weekend, I can get a spot for the Open," Niemann told Golf Australia magazine after his round.

It seems strange nobody knew he was coming, though.

Anyway.

This writer put the media badge in his back pocket at The Lakes this morning and went out to see if the two-time PGA Tour winner could draw a crowd down under.

In short, he certainly could. Obviously, playing with Aussies Lucas Herbert and Aaron Baddeley helped. But Niemann was the showstopper.

Gasps travelled around the crowd; people in awe of his ball-striking and how such a slender frame could bend in an unusual yet elegant way.

Watching him drive the ball is mesmerising; his 3-wood equally as impressive.

"The position he gets in hurts me to look at," a bloke behind me with a Great Northern in each hand said.

"Obviously, that's on my mind too, try to get some world ranking (points) for the Olympics. I don't think I'm going to be in the majors, but maybe if I have a good weekend, I can get a spot for the Open." – Joaquin Niemann.

The notepad and pen might have been a giveaway but before the players had hit their second shot on the 1st hole, a punter tapped me on the shoulder.

"Who are you writing about, champ."

I told him Niemann.

"My man," the spectator responds. "There should have been more media on him." 

This chap added that he didn't even know his man was coming to town.

He’s here now, though, and although the putter didn't play ball for the 25-year-old, he managed to sign for three under to be firmly in contention heading into the weekend. And he looked damn impressive doing it. It goes nicely with the 5-under 66 he posted yesterday on the more demanding layout (The Australian).

The second round was not without controversy. As reporters were waiting to chat with Niemann about his morning on the tools, he and Baddeley were engaged in a lengthy discussion with a rules official. They had been put on the clock for slow play but didn't know, according to Niemann.

"I mean, we were a little bit slow, and since 15, the rules official came to us to say we were starting to be monitored ... Obviously, we didn't know at that time we were starting to be timed.

"He never came to us and say, 'Hey, you guys are being timed, so if you've got a bad time, you're going to be penalised'.

"I mean, obviously, it's still a bad time. But if I'd known [that we were being timed] I wouldn't have had that time.

"I should be a little faster, which is fine," Niemann said.

No penalties were handed out in the end, and Niemann moves into the weekend in fantastic touch from tee to green.

 "I didn't miss any shots on the tee.

"I don't know if I missed the green for the whole round.

"So yeah, I mean, it's kind of good and also disappointing at the same time I couldn't be able to shoot a really low round today," Niemann said.