The PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers kicked off with a bang as Caleb Surratt and Adrian Meronk took the lead in Round 1.
Surratt, playing for Legion XIII, and Meronk, representing Cleeks Golf Club, both carded impressive 9-under 62s to set the pace. Surratt, a 21-year-old North Carolina native, showcased his potential with a stunning back nine performance, making seven birdies in a row at one point. Meronk, a LIV Golf League winner at this venue earlier in the season, continued his love affair with the Riyadh Golf Club.
Thomas Pieters, from 4Aces GC, sits just one shot behind after an 8-under 63, while Kiradech Aphibarnrat is in the mix with a 64.
This tournament marks the final event of The International Series season and is a crucial stop on the Asian Tour calendar. With 43 LIV Golf players in the field, the competition is fierce, and the leaderboard is packed with talent.
Who will come out on top in Riyadh? Will Surratt or Meronk convert their hot start into a victory, or will someone else steal the show? Stay tuned as the action unfolds!
Imagine the pressure. The final event of the season, a chance to submit your legacy, and a golden ticket to the Eliv Golf League hanging in the balance. That’s exactly what Caleb Serat and Adrien Moranc faced at the PIF Saudi International. And they responded with a blistering start that has the golfing world buzzing. On November 19th, 2025, Sirat of Legion 13 and Moranc of Clicks Golf Club both found something special at the Riad Golf Club. Each carding a stunning nine under 62 in the opening round. This remarkable achievement put them in a shared lead at the PIF Saudi International Powered by SoftBank Investment Advisors. This isn’t just a good start, it’s a statement of intent. Their impressive scores give them a onestroke advantage over Thomas Peters of four aces. GC who shot an equally impressive eight under 63. Thailand’s Kyc Aphabarnat is also in contention after a solid 64. This tournament marks the final event on the international series and is also the third to last stop on the Asian Tour calendar, adding even more weight to each swing. You can follow the action on the leaderboard and check out the updated rankings. And this is the part most people miss. The implications for next season’s Elivy golf spots. The pressure is immense as players vy for those coveted positions. This article on Elivy golf scenarios for 2026 LIIV golf spots explains how players can win a spot on the LIV golf league in 2026. A staggering 43 LIIV golf players are competing in the tournament with eight already positioned in the top 10 after the first round. But Sarat and Moranc aren’t just newcomers. They have history at this very course. Last year, Sirat set a course record with a 61 in the third round only to lose in a heartbreaking playoff. Moranc on the other hand tasted victory here earlier in February claiming the LIV golf riad title. Can they repeat their past successes or will the pressure of the final event prove too much? Sirat, who was defeated by Torque GC captain Neman in that playoff 12 months ago, was on track to potentially break his own course record. Starting on the 10th hole, he blazed through the back nine with a remarkable seven under 29. Specifically starting on the back nine, Sarat strung together an incredible six consecutive birdies from the 11th to the 16th holes, adding another on the 18th as he made the turn. He continued his birdie barrage with two more on the first and second holes, putting him within striking distance of sub60 round. A bogey on the fourth momentarily derailed his momentum, but he finished strong with a birdie on his final hole, the ninth. It was a great day, Sarat remarked. I’ve been working really, really hard the last few weeks. This is my fifth week traveling, so I’ve learned a lot. I’ve had to fight a lot of battles, so it was kind of nice to win today’s battle. I’m very pleased, but it’s just the start of the tournament. This maturity and level-headedness despite the pressure is a great sign for his future. At just 21 years old, the North Carolina native joined the LIV Golf League shortly after turning professional, joining John Rom’s team. This early success speaks volumes about his potential, but consistency is key in this sport. While Sirat is still chasing his first victory, he’s been knocking on the door. In addition to his runner-up finish here last year, he also tied for second in the International Series England earlier in 2024 and tied for third in the International Series Morocco. It’s been a much better year, Sarat stated confidently. I believe I’m one of the best players and I truly have shown myself that, especially towards the back half of the year. I’m really starting to learn my process, learn what I need to do to play well. I think it’s an everlasting process to learn how to be more consistent. I feel like my good golf is more than good enough. But what makes all these great players so good is they can bring it nearly every week. This self-awareness and dedication to improvement are critical for sustained success. Moron’s victory at this very course earlier in the season marked his first on the LIV Golf League, a league he debuted on just last year. This prior success could give him a psychological edge over the rest of the field. I don’t know. It just seems like it Riad golf club suits my game. Morac explained. I really like it. I think I kind of know how to play this course already and I like the greens. They roll nicely. I see the break nicely. Yeah, I just enjoy playing here. Excited to be here again. This comfort level and familiarity with the course could be a significant advantage. Peters, not to be outdone, finished strong with birdies on the last two holes. His arrival in Riad was preceded by encouraging top 10 finishes in both the Link Hong Kong Open and the Matai Singapore Open, suggesting he’s hitting his stride at the right time. I puted unbelievable today, Peters said. I think I had 24 putts. Usually, I don’t make a lot of putts from 10 to 15 feet, and today I made all of them. I was putting on Sunday night on my putting green at home and I was just kind of messing about with different models and stuff. I always like to tinker with putters. This one’s an old one that I got eight 9 years ago. Never used it but it did a good job today. Sometimes the simplest solutions are the most effective. Kirac Aphabarn Rat, the 2013 Asian Tur order of merit winner, also seems to have a fondness for this course, having tied for third in the Saudi Open presented by PIF early last year. I’m quite pleased with the way I’m playing the past couple months. Aphabarnat shared, “Starting really good, just can’t get everything going through the weekend, but I just keep knocking on the door and hopefully everything is coming together. I’ve been playing here not often, but this is my third time playing in this place, and I would say the green conditions is one of the best compared with the last two I played before. Consistency throughout the entire tournament is crucial for victory. Stinger GC captain Lewis Uzasen and Crushers GC’s Paul Casey are tied for fifth after carding 65s along with Korean Sangin Kim and Torque GC’s Sebastian Munoz. This crowded leaderboard indicates a highly competitive tournament. However, defending champion Neman has his work cut out for him after a 72. While Ripper GC captain Cameron Smith, who was also in the playoff last year, struggled with a 71. Can they bounce back and make a charge in the remaining rounds? The race to secure a coveted spot on the LIV Golf League by finishing in the top two on the International Series rankings took a significant step forward. The pressure is mounting as players fight for their future in the sport. The leading three players in the rankings, Scott Vincent from Zimbabwe, Yoske Asagi from Japan, and Filipino Miguel Tabuena were strategically paired together in the same group, adding extra drama to their competition. Vincent and Tabuena both posted solid 67s, while Asagi struggled with a 72. This head-to-head battle within the group created a fascinating subplot to the overall tournament. Vincent currently leads the rankings with 325.59 points, followed by Assaji in second with 285.3 points and Tobuena in third with 232.28 points. However, with a massive 324 points up for grabs for the winner this week, the race is wide open, meaning players further down the rankings still have a legitimate chance to snatch one of those coveted LIIV Golf League spots. This injects excitement and unpredictability into the final rounds. But here’s where it gets controversial. Should performance in past LIIV golf events weigh more heavily than performance in the International Series when considering LIIV golf league entry? Some argue that established LIIV players deserve priority while others believe the International Series provides a fairer platform for upandcoming talent. What do you think? Let us know in the comments below. Photos courtesy of Asian Tour.
