RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Joaquin Niemann has two primary objectives at this week’s PIF Saudi International.
No. 1, of course, is to win the tournament. He’s in good shape to achieve that objective as one of four co-leaders through 36 holes.
No. 2 is to get familiar with Riyadh Golf Club. Like many of the LIV Golf players in the field, Niemann is using this week as a de facto scouting mission for the 2025 LIV Golf Riyadh season opener set here for Feb. 6-8.
“It’s a good combination,” said the Torque GC captain. “I can work on the lines I’m trying to see, the different conditions, different winds, see how the ball reacts out of the rough and the bunkers.
“It’s a good week to learn for what’s coming in February.”
Of the 120 golfers in the field, 43 played full-time on LIV Golf in 2024, and most are scheduled to return next year. Few had seen the 7,246-yard par-71 Riyadh Golf Club until this week. The three previous LIV Golf tournaments held in Saudi Arabia were at Royal Greens outside Jeddah.
But with this week’s PIF Saudi International, next week’s LIV Golf Promotions and next February’s LIV Golf Saudi Arabia all held in Riyadh, the course – which opened in 2005 – will have a huge impact on how things shake out in terms of field makeup and tournament results. It’s no wonder so many LIV Golf players made the trek here.
“Most of the guys want to see the course before we start the 2025 season,” said Cleeks GC Captain Martin Kaymer. “It doesn’t really change the way we approach the tournament but it’s always good if you have seen a golf course before. We have only 14 events and we can’t really afford to go to a course and just see how it goes. You’ve got to be as ready as possible.”
“It’s a great field this week,” said Ripper GC Captain Cameron Smith, who traveled from Australia to play his fifth event in the last six weeks. “It’s basically like a LIV field with some extras.”
Despite his jet lag, Smith is tied for the lead after Thursday’s 7-under 64 left him at 11 under with Niemann and another LIV Golf player, Peter Uihlein, along with Logan McAllister, a Korn Ferry Tour player this year.
All of Smith’s Ripper teammates are in the field, with Matt Jones just two shots off the lead and Lucas Herbert also making the cut. In fact, seven LIV Golf teams had their full roster in action – including 4Aces GC, which actually had five representatives after trading for Thomas Pieters this week. All of Pieters’ former RangeGoats teammates are also playing.
