Detry, the newest full-time member of 4Aces GC, shot a bogey-free 7-under 65 to grab a share of the ROSHN Group LIV Golf Riyadh lead with LIV Golf veteran Peter Uihlein of RangeGoats GC. Smylie, the 23-year-old rising star who joined the all-Australian Ripper GC, carded a 66 that left him in solo third.

The two were among 10 players – eight full-timers and two reserves – playing their first-ever LIV Golf rounds. Byeong Hun An, the new captain of the Korean Golf Club, also sparkled in his debut, shooting 67 to join a group of six players tied for fourth. HyFlyers GC’s Michael La Sasso shot 69 in his pro debut as the league’s youngest player at age 21.

Torque GC grabbed the team lead at 15 under, with the all-South African Southern Guards GC two shots behind. Defending Riyadh champions and reigning LIV Golf Team Champions Legion XIII are in solo third at 11 under.

Detry and Smylie each hit 10 fairways, tying for best in the field, while Detry also was tied for the lead in greens in regulation, hitting 17 of 18. He prepared for playing at night by practising under the lights with his coach in Abu Dhabi.

“First day on the job, so a little bit of a change for me, so a bit nervous,” said the Belgian, whose most recent win was in February last year on the PGA Tour. “I drove it so well out there, it made my job pretty easy.”

Smylie suffered a bogey on his second hole before finding his rhythm. Five of his seven birdies came on par 4s, tying new Smash GC Captain Talor Gooch for most by any other player on Wednesday.

“I think there was a little bit of nerves and excitement, but I think I showed what I’m capable of today – or tonight, I should say,” Smylie said.

While Detry and Smylie were making LIV Golf starts No. 1, Uihlein was making start No. 51 as one of eight original players who have started every tournament since LIV Golf debuted in London in 2022.

RELATED: Tabuena earns Riyadh call-up for Dustin Johnson’s 4Aces GC

He remains in search of his first LIV Golf win, although he won two International Series events on the Asian Tour in 2024. Those were each 72-hole tournaments, and Uihlein hopes LIV Golf’s format switch from 54 holes to 72 starting this season will prove beneficial to him.

“I’m not scared of a blowup every now and then on a hole in particular, so now I have more holes to make it up,” Uihlein said. “I think it’s going to benefit me long-term, which is nice.”

Gooch is among the group lurking at 5 under. He’s won four individual titles and the 2023 season-long Individual Championship, all in the previous 54-hole format. He and the other veteran LIV Golf players have had to adjust their mindset.

“Definitely has a totally different vibe,” Gooch said. “Only 18 more holes, it’s not that vastly different. But even on the range when we were about to go, I was giving everybody a little fist bump and said, ‘Let’s go get it,’ and Harold (Varner III, his new Smash teammate) said, ‘Hey, don’t come out the gate sprinting. It’s not a sprint anymore.”

It remains serious business, though, especially with a bevvy of newcomers in the expanded 57-player field determined to make a quick impression even while getting used to LIV Golf’s energetic tournament days.

“I think even with the concerts and the entertainment outside of the golf, that’s something that I’m really enjoying,” Smylie said. “I feel like I’m really thriving in an environment like that, and it’s great to start my LIV career here in Riyadh.”

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The week-long celebration of Arab golf, hosted by the Arab Golf Federation, is marking 35 years since the Cup was played for at Emirates Golf Club in 1988, to celebrate the opening of the Majlis Golf Course.

Karim Salaam, President of the Lebanese Golf Federation and Arab Golf Federation Executive Committee member

President of the Lebanese Golf Federation and Arab Golf Federation Executive Committee member Karim Salaam, was delighted to announce the host venue, “It’s fantastic to be able to announce Riyadh Golf Club as the host venue. This is the objective of the Arab Golf Federation Cup that we play annually, which is to get the Arab community involved in the sport we love.”

Karim’s father, Salim Ali Salaam, was the founder of the Arab Golf Federation in 1975, and this year the federation is celebrating a successful 50 years of the Arab Golf Federation.

“My father was head of MEA Airlines in 1984, which is Lebanon’s national airline carrier. And at the time, he met with Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum to discuss what later became Emirates Airlines. He was able to convince him that, because he had an objective to have a national airline carrier for Dubai, he should have it in parallel with golf as the driving tool to get tourists.

Emirates Golf Club in the late 1980s – David Cannon

“So this is where we encouraged and supported Dubai to build the Majlis Golf Course at Emirates Golf Club, which was opened in March 1988. We then played our first Arab Golf Federation Cup on Dubai soil to celebrate the opening of the Majlis.

“Sheikh Hamdan was so happy that he immediately gave instructions to build Dubai Creek, which was opened in 1991. I still remember that we did a nine-hole demonstration for the opening of the course with Ernie Els and Raymond Floyd, so the Arab Golf Federation have a strong history of golf in the UAE.”

From there, Salim, who was a good friend of the now king of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa, convinced him to build a grass golf course in Bahrain as well. He then went to Qatar, and also convinced them, all part of the Arab Golf Federation nurturing.

1975 Arab Golf Federation Cup

“Thankfully, I was able to witness how Lebanon was able to influence what would later on become the Arab golf world as we know it today.

“I’m so proud of how the Emirates Golf Federation were able to develop the Arab Golf Federation, as they had the presidency for quite some time, but now with Saudi Arabia being able to change not only the local scene, but also the world scene is really impressive.”

1975 Arab Golf Federation Cup – Team Palestine

His Excellency Yasir Al-Yasir Al-Rumayyan President of the Arab Golf Federation, with Rory McIlroy – Ross Parker – SNS Group

Arab Golf Federations Pan Arab Junior and Ladies Golf Championship

“It’s emotional as well, because it’s something that my father would be proud of.

“I don’t know if he envisioned where we are today, but he definitely believed that golf is very important to have in the Arab world.”

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The camp marked the launch of the AGF’s flagship Elite Sports Scholarship Program, a major initiative designed to support the long-term goal of producing an Arab champion by 2035. Open to players under 18, the program identifies emerging talent and provides them with a fully integrated development pathway, from technical training to academic and mental support.

Delivered in collaboration with IMG Academy, a world leader in elite sports training, the camp featured a full schedule of technical, physical, and psychological assessments. Participants completed high-performance testing at dedicated stations equipped with cutting-edge technologies such as Trackman, alongside structured indoor and on-course training.

RELATED: Arab Golf Federation launches Elite Sports Scholarship Camp with places at IMG Academy on offer 

To assess how players performed under pressure, two official 18-hole championship rounds were staged at Riyadh Golf Club. While winners were crowned at the event, the AGF will use performances across the two days to help determine final selections for the Academy. Players chosen will receive full scholarships beginning in August 2025, covering elite golf coaching, academic support, physical training, mental conditioning, and advanced performance analysis. Final decisions will be communicated to participants in the coming weeks.

On the sidelines, Kevin Craggs, Executive Director at IMG Academy, delivered a session titled “Mastering the Margin: Coaching for Clarity and Competitive Edge.” The talk – attended by players’ families and coaches – highlighted the importance of cultivating an environment that supports holistic player development. Key themes included mental resilience, conscious leadership, and understanding the mindset of the next generation of athletes.

Elite Scholarship Program. Image by AGF

Noah Alireza the Secretary-General of the Arab Golf Federation highlighted the importance of this initiative, stating:

“This camp represents a turning point in our journey to establish a clear competitive pathway for Arab golfers. By combining world-class training, international exposure, and meticulous evaluation, we are laying a strong foundation for young Arab talents to rise to the top levels of the sport.”

He added: “The Elite Sports Scholarship Camp is a genuine launchpad toward realising the Arab Golf Federation’s vision of producing a new generation of Arab champions capable of competing globally.

“Through comprehensive assessment programs and strategic partnerships with leading institutions, the Federation is laying the groundwork for a promising future for golf in the Arab world, built on planning, professionalism, and investment in youth potential.”

Main image: The Elite Sport Scholarship Program athletes take part in the four-day experience hosted at Riyadh Golf Club. Supplied

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Played as part of the new-look PIF Global Series, the $ 2 million prize-fund Aramco Korea Championship brought more than 100 of the world’s best golfers together at New Korea Country Club, May 9-11. Team Kouskova – led by Czech star, Sara Kouskova – and local hero Hyo Joo Kim were crowned team and individual winners respectively, following three challenging days in the South Korean capital.

And while the PIF Global Series aims to elevate women’s golf and drive greater equality at the peak of the professional game, organisers Golf Saudi are also focused on driving the grassroots growth of golf both domestically in Saudi Arabia and around the world.

In line with that, a team of Golf Saudi’s leading coaches and global ambassadors came together to host an international GoGolf coaching clinic on-site at the Aramco Korea Championship.

GoGolf is Golf Saudi’s world-first golf coaching initiative that offers all new golfers in Saudi Arabia three months of free golf lessons. Once completed, each aspiring golfer is given a year of discounted rounds of golf at golf courses across the Kingdom, plus further discounted lessons and reduced-price club memberships. To date, an estimated 70,000 free lessons have been given as part of GoGolf, driving a 300% increase in Saudi golfers since 2022, with 3,000 Saudi women taking up the game since 2021.

In Seoul, Golf Saudi’s GoGolf lessons welcomed more than 300 young South Koreans and Saudi-born expats for three days of on-ground coaching clinics. Led by Golf Saudi’s GoGolf coaches, the sessions also featured tips and guidance from Golf Saudi ambassadors, all held at the tournament’s official driving range.

“At Golf Saudi we are passionate about bringing more and more people into the game we love, helping it continue to grow both in Saudi Arabia and around the world,” said Muath Al Alsheikh, Program Manager at GoGolf. “We know that means enabling access and breaking down barriers of entry wherever possible, so that’s why GoGolf offers all Saudis free lessons – and why we were thrilled to host complimentary GoGolf clinics in Seoul.

“It was great to see so many young golfers come and be part of the sessions, including some who were repeat participants – amongst them, several of the Saudi expats. This shows the effectiveness of clinics like these in driving a growing interest in golf.”

MORE: Try golf series – Getting on the course

Lessons included fun swing sessions for kids aged between 5-8 years old, brought to the event through a partnership with South Korean non-profit golf development scheme, First Tee.

First Tee Executive Director, Mr Choi, said: “We would like to express our deepest gratitude to Golf Saudi and the PIF Global Series Aramco Korea Championship for bringing the GoGolf initiative to Seoul and for giving our First Tee children an unforgettable opportunity that will stay with them for a lifetime.

“This meaningful encounter has inspired us to pursue a vision: creating a more inclusive and community-centred golf culture together with Golf Saudi. To achieve our shared goal, we believe that if Golf Saudi continues to nurture the next generation of golf talent into world-class athletes, and we do our part to ensure that more young children have the opportunity to dream and grow through golf, then our dream of uniting the world through golf will surely become a reality.

“To the GoGolf team, who are playing such a vital role in setting young Saudi golfers on their journey – thank you once again for being with our First Tee children.”

There were also sessions given to Saudi expats living in Seoul, themselves with eyes on one-day becoming Saudi Arabia’s first international champion golfers.

Expat Abrar Abdulwahab was one of the more than 100 Saudis who took part in the GoGolf lessons at New Korea Country Club. She said: “I really enjoyed GoGolf. I tried golf last year in Saudi Arabia, and now, trying again here, I’ve definitely noticed an improvement in my skills. When I return to my home, I’ll continue learning more – it’s been a wonderful experience.”

Fellow Saudi expat, Fahad Al-Qahtani, added: “I’m extremely grateful for this program and its organisers. Not only did I take part in the coaching session, but I also learned about the history of golf in Saudi Arabia, which was really interesting.”

GoGolf is available year-round for Saudis to register to learn to play golf across Saudi Arabia.

For more information on the Go Golf Initiative by Golf Saudi, please visit golfsaudi.com/Go_Golf

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The prodigious Thai, who celebrates her 22nd birthday next Thursday (February 20), follows her compatriot Patty Tavatanakit who picked up the winner’s cheque as part of the $5 million Saudi’s flagship women’s golf tournament in 2024.

Jeeno just loves winning

A 17th professional victory at the age of 21. Incredible!#ExcitementIsOurGame pic.twitter.com/gsh21RRZED

— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) February 15, 2025

The event marked Thitikul’s first start of the season. Afterwards she said: “It’s the best present I’ve ever received in my life!” Adding: “To be honest, I didn’t think I’d be able to win my first event of the year at all because after a long offseason without playing tournaments, you need to adjust a little bit on the course. But winning here is a huge advantage. We can take this form and carry on the good things that happened here. More than anything, I think my team will be proud because we’ve worked really hard in the offseason, always trying to get better. Having a win here means we’re moving in the right direction.”

Thitikul started the final day at Riyadh Golf Club with a three-shot lead, which she quickly extended notching up four birdies in her first 10 holes, giving her a five-shot advantage with eight to play.

The World No. 4 would give just one shot back to the field over these holes, which proved too good for closest competitors Somi Lee, whose two-under-par round of 70 would hand her solo second, and England’s Annabell Fuller who made a remarkable recovery after a three-over front-nine to finish her round one over par and leave her alone in third place.

In securing third place, Fuller has made it back-to-back top 10s after a sixth placed finish on the Ladies European Tour (LET).

After her final round, the 22-year-old Fuller, who will pocket $270,000 from the PIF Saudi Ladies International from finishing solo third, said: “I was saying to my parents last week, this kind of tournament is life-changing. Golf isn’t cheap, and neither is travelling, so having the opportunity to earn at this level is huge. It really helps make a career in the game more sustainable.

“It was awesome to play next to her [Jeeno Thitikul] and watch her game, she’s so good. Even when she made a mistake, seeing how she recovered was incredible. Her short game is just next level, and she always managed to get out of tough spots so well. For me, it’s a huge confidence boost to have two strong weeks back-to-back.”

Boasting an historic $5 million prize fund PIF Saudi Ladies International matches the men’s equivalent, the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisors (played on the Asian Tour,) and represents the highest non-Major purse on the LET, illustrating Golf Saudi and PIF’s aligned commitment to enabling and advancing women in the game.

Following her victory, Thitikul addressed the significance of this.

She said: “I think Golf Saudi and PIF have done so much to elevate women’s golf and grow the game. I really appreciate how they see the potential in women’s golf and continue investing in it. The women’s game really needs this kind of support to keep growing, especially for the next generation. Hopefully, more fans will watch, whether on TV or coming out here in person. Saudi has done a really good job organizing a big event and bringing in top players to compete, which is great for women’s golf.”

Team Lee takes the team win (from left to right) Amy Taylor, Nastasia Naduad, Somi Lee, Minsun Kim – 2025 PIF Saudi Ladies International – LET

A new two-day team format was introduced to the tournament this year to heighten the drama and increase prize-winning potential. Korea’s Somi Lee captained her team to a two-shot victory, lifting the trophy on Friday.

Images: LET

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The 26-year-old raced to four under par on the front nine before dropping three crucial birdie putts in the last four holes to top the leaderboard, one shot clear from Germany’s Esther Henseleit and Annabel Fuller from England.

How things stand after a low scoring round 1 in Riyadh #ExcitementIsOurGame pic.twitter.com/urlFwBL3eG

— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) February 13, 2025

Continuing with the good form that gave her a top-15 finish in last week’s Founders Cup, Lee isn’t going to get ahead of herself. After her round, she said: “I don’t want to think about what has passed. I just want to think about what’s coming and that’s my main focus.”

The PIF Saudi Ladies International has welcomed an innovative new format including a team element alongside individual competition for the 112-strong field featuring many of the world’s best women golfers.

A combination of Lee’s heroics, alongside a similarly stunning 67 from teammate and compatriot Minsun Kim, helped Team Lee – completed with France’s Nastasia Nadaud and Amy Taylor of England – reach a total of -17, which would be second only to Team Kyriacou.

The two-time Ladies European Tour winner was joined by Germany’s Olivia Cowan, Sara Kouskova from Czechia and Liz Young, who – in the words of their Australian skipper – “ham and egged really well!”

TEAM Kyriacou hold the overnight lead #ExcitementIsOurGame pic.twitter.com/Y4Yo1kRcn0

— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) February 13, 2025

The 24-year-old also relied on a strong finish to support her team with four birdies in the last five holes. She added: “I wasn’t really doing much for the first 14 holes but I was able to turn it on the last few that will help us going into tomorrow.”

Teammate Cowan contributed an eye-popping eight birdies en route to the team including a near ace on the par-3 17th. Elsewhere, Thai 20-year-old April Angurasaranee made her first hole-in-one holing a well-struck 6-iron on the sixth hole to the delight of her fellow countrywoman and team captain Moriya Jutanugarn.

The PIF Saudi Ladies International features a unique format with 28 teams of four professionals as the top two scores on each hole count towards the team score.

One of the tournament’s most significant milestones is its equal prize fund to the men’s event, the PIF Saudi International Presented by SoftBank, an important step forward for women’s golf.

Round two continues on Friday, February 14.

Main Image: LET

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https://twitter.com/HullCharley/status/627582051940700161

Over the years, viral LPGA star has tried to cut out sweets, to no avail, as evidenced by the following. “Resisting myself from eating chocolate for 4 months lol.” “So tempted to eat some chocolate. But nope I can’t ” “Proper chocolate myself out today. Time to ban it for another 3 months lol.” It goes like this every so often, and it’s just another example of the pros sometimes being exactly like us.

MORE: Charley Hull comes up with harshest of penalties for ‘ridiculous’ slow players

Anyway, young Charley Hull would be quite proud of her grown-up self as she went on a “chocolate binge trip” to Belgium over her offseason break, as reported by Carly Cummins of The Sporting News. “I went to Bruges and ate a lot of chocolate,” Hull announced during her PIF Saudi Ladies International pre-tournament press conference. “Enough to put on a lot of weight! But then I ran a lot so as not to put the weight on.” She posted a good deal from Bruges, including a photo of waffles and strawberries coated with chocolate sauce. Not too shabby. “Dzien dobry!” Hull added. “Waffling around Brugge & feeling very Eastern European (I got it from my mama).”

We all need to cut loose every so often and we appreciate Hull’s obsession. She went to the right place for chocolate too, as Bruges is a chocolate nirvana featuring Katelijnestraat, a street renowned for its chocolate shops. Travel guru Rick Steves “warns that the Tonka variety is such strong chocolate that it’s banned in the US.” Sounds like the perfect place for a chocolate specialist like Hull.

Now that the December break is in her rearview and the 2025 season is raring to go, Hull (unfortunately) will have to take a step back from the chocolate binge and get back to the gym, by her own admission.

https://twitter.com/HullCharley34/status/1889150804927381762

She’s been posting through it—don’t we all?—and has even added a bit of strength training to her usual cardio and runs. With that said, don’t expect her to do much golf training.

“People are asking why I run so much and why I don’t do golf specific training,” she wrote on Instagram. “1. golf training is boring I have no interest in that at all but the training & weights I do help my golf. 2. I love running as a hobby and for my fitness and my mind. The more fitter you are the less jet lag you get and the more stamina you have.”

Main image: Sarah Stier

RELATED: Charley Hull shares gruelling Christmas workout, puts all of us to shame

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On Saturday, at LIV Golf’s season opener in Saudi Arabia, Meronk became the winner of the first known men’s professional golf tournament held completely under lights when he dominated LIV Golf Riyadh in wire-to-wire fashion. The 31-year-old carded rounds of 62, 66 and 71 to finish at 17 under for three rounds, with two-time major winner Jon Rahm and Sebastian Muñoz sharing second at 15 under.

“It’s super special,” Meronk, who plays on Martin Kaymer’s Cleeks GC team, said of his maiden victory on LIV since joining in 2024. “I was nervous all day. I played quite good in the beginning, then the last couple holes [were] a battle for me but I’m super happy that I crossed the line.”

Those struggles invited Rahm, Munoz, Lucas Herbert (T-4), and T-6 finishers Sergio Garcia, Tyrrell Hatton and Bryson DeChambeau back into contention on the final day. After four-time DP World Tour winner Meronk started the day with a two-shot lead, he made birdies at Nos. 1 and 8 to hold a four-shot advantage at one stage.

Then disaster struck. He made bogeys at Nos. 10 and 11 before a truly vicious, horseshoe lip-out for birdie at No.13.

“I felt in control after nine holes, but after I missed a short one on the 10th for par, that’s where kind of the nerves started,” Meronk said. “Then I made another bogey and that lip-out on 13 was just so ugly. But it happens.”

But a towering short iron from 167 yards that settled to four feet on the par-4 16th allowed the 6-foot-6 Meronk some breathing room down the last two holes.

He collected the biggest winner’s check of his career—$4 million for individual first place. In the team competition, Rahm’s Legion XIII, with includes Hatton, new LIV recruit Tom McKibbin and Caleb Surratt, won by 11 shots at 50 under. LIV changed the format for the team component so that all four players’ scores counted for every round. It was Legion XIII’s fifth team victory since joining as an expansion team last season.

Meronk’s win aside, the most compelling element of LIV Golf’s season-opening event in Riyadh—which was up against the WM Phoenix Open, one of the most talked-about tournaments in world golf—was that it was the first tournament held under lights. The field teed off just after 6 p.m. local each of the three rounds. While the Ladies European Tour for two years held the Dubai Moonlight Classic, it was only partially played under lights.

Off the tee and on the green @JonRahmOfficial

LIVE now on FS2
Stream on the LIV Golf App#LIVGolfRiyadh @LegionXIIIgc pic.twitter.com/WXcTCDyVoE

— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) February 7, 2025

LIV embraced the night carvinal atmosphere by introducing The Boulevard, a futuristic fan village with amusement rides, virtual reality golf games, e-sports activations and performers. Lasers and lights beamed from the fan area around the course and LIV’s signature music was pumping during play and could be seen and heard on the broadcast.

After the second round, ’90s boy band Backstreet Boy headlined the post-round entertainment. While the look and feel was certainly different, LIV sure leaned into its modern take on golf tournaments.

“I really enjoyed it; I think it was a great setup,” Meronk said. “The lights were bright enough. We managed to see the ball quite well, even in the desert sometimes. I think we can definitely keep doing that and maybe add one more somewhere else.”

That created interesting storylines around how LIV’s players prepared for the challenges of depth perception, shadows, and temperature changes. For Rahm, the 2021 U.S. Open champion and 2023 Masters champion, he played a par 3 course near Scottsdale. “Luckily we have Grass Clippings, a par 3 course that is lit at night, so I got a couple rounds before coming here in very cold weather,” said Rahm.

For the Dubai-based players such as Meronk and McKibbin, there were plenty of options. McKibbin, who turned down one of 10 PGA Tour promotions from the DP World Tour to join LIV this season, plays at Trump International Dubai. That boasts a fully lit, Gil Hanse-designed par-3 course and an LED-lit back nine on its championship course.

“I think I prepared well for this tournament, playing a few rounds in Dubai, night golf, because you have to get used to the shadows, the lighting, the perception is a little bit different, especially around the greens and on the greens, reading the greens,” Meronk said.

“I like changes. I like new things.”

While LIV’s offseason was lean—McKibbin was the only notable signing—the league enjoyed a massive boost on the eve of LIV Golf Riyadh when the United States Golf Association announced it would become the first major championship to award a direct pathway from LIV to the U.S. Open. One player in the top of three (not already exempt) of its points standings leading up to Oakmont Country Club in June will earn a spot in the championship.

The USGA also announced that the top 10 LIV players in April will bypass local qualifying and instead earn direct spots into final 36-hole qualifying. Next year, the exemption for LIV’s leading points earners will extent to two spots. Soon after, The Telegraph in the U.K. reported the Open Championship would also offer LIV spots in the links major.

Naturally, Meronk leapt to the top of the LIV standings with 40 points for his Riyadh win.

In the past, LIV’s biggest criticism about the majors was, despite having stars on the roster such as Rahm, DeChambeau, Cameron Smith, Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka, there was no context to their league wins. Now, there is an opportunity for a non-exempt player to earn a pathway to two majors from LIV’s standings.

“It’s very important, yeah,” Meronk said. “[The U.S. Open] is going to be on my goal list for sure. I’m going to focus on that, just to keep going, keep playing good golf, and hopefully I can get a spot.”

Main Image: FAYEZ NURELDINE

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Meanwhile Legion XIII, fueled by newest member Tom McKibbin, set a first-round scoring record by shooting 24-under as a team, with all four scores counting in all rounds, thanks to a format change starting this season.

It was just a year ago that Meronk made his LIV Golf debut after signing just before the season opener. The adjustment period resulted in a slow start, but he finished the year in the top 24 Lock Zone.

“Last year was a very stressful beginning of the year for me, definitely, and this year I know what to expect,” Meronk said. “I feel like home, and I love it. I love being on LIV.”

The Dubai-based Pole made a coaching change in the offseason, which also resulted in a couple of swing changes. As he hit all 18 greens in regulation, including a 5-iron second shot from 250 yards at the par-5 sixth that settled 20 feet away for a two-putt birdie on Thursday evening.

“I’m excited for the future because I really like how my golf game is shaping up,” Meronk said. “It feels much more comfortable, and I can control the ball much easier.”

Legion XIII also made its debut a year ago as LIV Golf’s first expansion team. Unlike Meronk, there was no adjustment period needed.

With Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton as a lethal 1-2 punch, Legion XIII won its first event in Mayakoba, and added three more regular-season wins. Inconsistency on the back end of the roster was the team’s only weakness – and that seems to have been answered with the addition of Northern Ireland’s McKibbin and the continued development of LIV Golf’s youngest player, 20-year-old American Caleb Surratt.

 

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On Thursday, McKibbin and Surratt (66) each shot bogey-free rounds, as did Hatton (66). Rahm suffered the team’s only bogey in shooting 67. A year ago, his score wouldn’t have counted.

“I did not expect 5 under to be the worst score of the team,” Rahm said. “But here we are. The young guys have started the year strong.”

Main Image: LIV Golf

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Joaquín Niemann loves Saudi Arabia. The 26-year-old has claimed the two biggest prize funds in golf in the Kingdom within the space of 10 months at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club and Riyadh Golf Club. In this exclusive interview with Golf Digest Middle East, Niemann shares his plans for defending his LIV Golf title this month in the capital, as he also looks ahead to his 2025 season both personally and within the LIV Golf League.

Joaquín, how much are you looking forward to defend your title in Saudi Arabia this month? Especially with it being LIV Golf’s first event of the season?

I’m pretty excited. I played, and won, at Riyadh Golf Club for the PIF Saudi International back in December on the Asian Tour’s International Series, so we were able to see the course and get a feel for what it’s going to be like. I think the weather will be similar in February, so I’m really looking forward to going back.

There were some really good crowds as well when we were there, so I’m sure it’s going to be a fun week.

How does it feel to win twice in Saudi Arabia now?

Winning in both Jeddah on LIV Golf and Riyadh on the Asian Tour is pretty special.

In Riyadh, it felt like it was an interesting week because I was playing really well, and I felt I had a great chance to win. I was almost able to get it done on the last couple of holes, but then it got a little bit “complicated” towards the end, as Caleb (Surratt) was playing great.

But it was a great experience, especially playing well on those playoff holes, even though I struggled with a few of the short putts.

But that’s part of golf when the pressure is on, and it makes it even sweeter to win the title.

Image supplied

It seems like you’ve developed a strong connection with the country!

Ha! I’m not sure what it is! I’ve played really well in Saudi these past 12 months. The grass on the course is similar to what I’m used to, which is a mix of Paspalum and Bermuda. I’ve heard they might oversee the course in Riyadh for the LIV Golf event, so we’ll see.

Hopefully, it won’t change too much! But I don’t know what it is about Saudi Arabia; I just like it!

You’re an integral part of Torque GC, how do you see the team dynamic evolving this season?

We have a great team at Torque GC. We’re really good friends, and we’re all committed to working hard and improving together.

But looking back at last year, we didn’t play well enough. We didn’t win anything and ended up fifth in the league, which I feel like we didn’t deserve.

I keep saying it, but I think we played better than the results showed. So this year, we’ve got to start playing better and getting those results in.

What about your personal goals and objectives for this season?

Is there anything specific you’ve been working on in your game? Surprisingly, I feel like everything in my game needs to improve.

There’s a lot more room for improvement in my short game. I think if I can improve that, I’ll have a better chance of winning more tournaments. My long game, including my irons and driving, has been pretty consistent throughout the year. But it just feels like it’s been the same for every round of golf.

When I’m out of position, and I miss a green, that’s where I’m able to make up for it with my short game and save my round. So if I can do that more often, I hope to be able to play a lot better.

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How important do you think it is for players like yourself to be able to compete in the majors this year?

For me, as a professional golfer, majors are majors. We all want to play in them and win them. But with everything going on, I think it’s part of the adjustment to golf.

For me, it’s frustrating not being in some of the majors, but there’s not much I can do.

I’m trying to do my best, I’m trying to travel around the world and play to earn world ranking points where I can, but sometimes, it’s just not enough.

Looking back, how would you assess your journey with LIV Golf?

It’s been awesome to be part of this process. Something I’ve been telling a lot of my friends back in Chile about is that when you’re part of something new, and you get to be part of building it, it’s pretty special.

Putting part of myself into something to help it grow is great. Being a part of that process, watching how it has grown every year since we started, and looking back at where we began, it’s pretty cool.

Yeah, there’s still a lot of room for improvement. There’s a lot that needs to happen, a lot of things LIV Golf needs to improve on, but also it is down to us to make it better and more competitive.

But it’s getting better, and I’m happy to be part of it.

Main Image: LIV Golf. Supplied

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