Tom McKibbin and Graeme McDowell shot matching three-under rounds of 68 to kickstart the PIF Saudi International at Riyadh Golf Club and find themselves tied for 28th after round one.
Playing alongside Dustin Johnson and defending champion, Joaquin Niemann, McKibbin was among the late starters and had an up-and-down first nine holes, trading bogeys on one, five and eight with birdies on two, seven and nine to make the turn at level-par.
He was much more dialled in on the back nine, however, hitting every green in regulation and making birdies on 10, 12 and 17 to push his way inside the top 30 and he’ll have an early tee time on Thursday as he looks to edge closer to the top of the leaderboard at the halfway mark and to chase down a second victory on the Asian Tour after claiming the Hong Kong Open title three weeks ago.
McDowell was playing in the early wave and he too found the back side of the course more favourable, though he was playing it as his front nine.
He birdied 10, 15 and 18 and turned at -3, but after birdieing three to get to -4, he dropped a shot at the fifth and parred the final four.
Caleb Surratt and Adrian Meronk are both fond of Riyadh Golf Club and they both shot nine-under-par 62s to take the first-round lead.
They lead from Belgium’s Thomas Pieters who returned a 63 while Kiradech Aphibarnrat from Thailand shot a 64 – in the final event of the season on The International Series, and the third from last stop on the Asian Tour calendar.
Both Surratt and Meronk have history at this venue. Surratt shot a course record 61 in this event last year in the third round before going on to lose in a play-off, while Meronk claimed the LIV Golf Riyadh title here in February.
Surratt, who was beaten by Niemann in extra-time 12 months ago, was comfortably on course to break his course record when, after starting on 10, he played the back nine in seven-under-par 29.
He birdied six on the trot from 11 and made birdie on the last, before two more birdies followed on holes one and two. That put the American on 59 watch, before that was stood down after a bogey on the fourth. He closed with a birdie on nine.
“It was a great day,” he said. “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.”
The 21-year-old from North Carolina joined the LIV Golf League soon after turning professional and plays for Jon Rahm’s Legion XIII team.
He is yet to win but has come close several times. As well as tying for second here last year he was also joint second in the International Series England earlier in 2024 and was equal third in the International Series Morocco before that.
“It’s been a much better year. 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,” he added.
“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.”
Meronk’s victory here at the start of the season was his first on the LIV Golf League – which he debuted on last year.
Niemann’s chances of a successful defence are on the ropes after a one-over 72 which leaves him 10 shots adrift and needing to shoot a round in the 60s if he’s to have any chance of seeing action in the final two rounds.
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