In less than two months time, Riyadh Golf Club will be playing host to the season ending tournament on the 2024 Asian Tour, and the final International Series event on tours schedule, the PIF Saudi International, powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers.
Taking place December 4-7 the US $5million event will make its debut at Riyadh Golf Club after five successful years at the praised Royal Greens Golf & Country Club in King Abdullah Economic City.
Riyadh Golf Club has played host to many of the Kingdom’s leading tournaments, including the Saudi Open presented by PIF, the Aramco Team Series Riyadh, and the Aramco Saudi Ladies International as it now adds the PIF Saudi International to it’s ever growing CV.
Notable players already confirmed for the December event are defending champion Mexico’s Abraham Ancer, American duo of 2022 champion Harold Varner III and two-time winner Dustin Johnson, and the 2022 Open Champion Australian Cameron Smith.
Smith, who plays on the LIV Golf League as skipper for the Ripper GC’s, finished runner up to Ancer in 2023, as he looks to go one better this time round, “I am really looking forward to visiting Riyadh for the first time.
“From what I have read, there is so much going on there with some great sports facilities for grassroots and professionals being put in place. We have also heard lots of good things about the Championship course at Riyadh Golf Club.
“Looking at the design and reputation of the course, I reckon it is going to provide us with a real test as we try to stay both out of the water and out in front of what will be another world-class field at the PIF Saudi International.”
With The PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers moving to the season end of both the Asian Tour and The International Series order of merits, it has clearly added to the tournament’s prominence, which has grown significantly since its inception. For the first time later this year, the PIF Saudi International will finish on the Saturday in order to align with the final two days with the weekend in the Kingdom as players take aim on the $1 million first place cheque.
The tournament is the last of 10 elevated events on the International Series, a league that offers a direct pathway for players from all over the world onto the LIV Golf League.
The champion of the season-ending International Series Rankings, which is currently held by American John Catlin, will secure a spot on the 2025 LIV Golf League roster.
Golf Saudi CEO, Noah Alireza commented, “We are delighted to be taking this prestigious event to Riyadh Golf Club. Securing this key date and being positioned as the finale to the Asian Tour and The International Series adds to the significance of the PIF Saudi International, powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers as we see it grow in stature with each edition.”
Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO of the Asian Tour said, “This new date gives the PIF Saudi International, the key position and prominence it deserves as the climax to our season. We believe Riyadh Golf Club will provide an excellent stage to showcase the culmination of our year and, with so much on the line, it should make for a dramatic and must-watch ending to our 2024 season.”
Main image: Asian Tour. Image supplied
This article was featured in the October 2024 issue of Golf Digest Middle East. Click here for a digital issue of the full magazine.
