Armed with the experience of playing against some of the finest players in the world in the LIV Golf League, and with momentum, motivation and age on his side, 21-year-old David Puig of Torque will definitely be a player to watch at this week’s LIV Golf Jeddah.

The Spaniard is enjoying a rich vein of form, one which led him to his first win as a professional in last week’s International Series Singapore tournament on the Asian Tour.

Puig raced to 20-under par in his first three rounds and was leading by nine shots going into the final round at Tanah Merah course. He shot a “disappointing” one-over 73 on Sunday but still won by five shots.

The Arizona State University alum was trending towards the win, leading four times at some stage during his last five tournaments. That included the International Series England at Close House, where a romp was brought to a halt with a lost ball on the 12th hole in the third round, leading to a momentum-stopping triple-bogey.

Undaunted, he was at it again the week after at St Andrews Bay Championship and led at the halfway stage with rounds of 66 and 64 before another lost ball and another triple-bogey on Saturday cost him a run at the title.

Now that Puig is a winner, he has set his mind on winning in LIV Golf, and Jeddah is going to be a big chance for him.

With age on his side, there is a feeling that he will be best placed to battle against the intense heat and humidity that players face at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club, and something that a majority of players have pointed out as a key factor this week. Puig also grew up in Spain and played his college golf in Arizona and is used to the heat.

“Maybe I have an advantage against some of the older guys, but … we’re all struggling,” Puig told LIV Golf. “Even though I’m 21, I am pretty tired after every round. Hopefully, it doesn’t affect my game and maybe I have some advantage, but I don’t know if it really is an advantage.”

Puig is currently 30th in the LIV Golf League Individual Champion standings with 40 points. He has two top-10s this season, with his best result being a fourth place in Greenbrier. And he is focused on making it to the Top 24 and get himself into the Lock Zone after Jeddah, the final tournament of the regular season before next week’s season-ending Team Championship in Miami.

The top 24 players in points after Jeddah will lock down their spots for the 2024 LIV Golf League season.

“It’s a big tournament, it’s the last tournament of the regular season and obviously, one of my objectives at the start of the year was to finish inside the Top 24 and I want to accomplish that. I think I need to be in the fourth place or better to do that,” said Puig.

“I will probably need a few players to play worse than me, but at the end of the day, that’s not something I can control. All I can control is how I play. I think it’s a good course for me. It’s kind of open and I think I have some advantage on that. While I am happy to win my first professional tournament, I would definitely like to win here on LIV for sure. That’s been one of the objectives this year.”

Puig said his first full-schedule year on LIV has been a huge learning experience and something that has helped him win the Singapore title. A naturally attacking player, he admitted that he is now trying to strategise more on the golf course, play a bit more conservatively at times — and not get frustrated if he hits a bad shot here and there.

“I have learnt a lot playing against all these players in LIV. I have learned, maybe, not being that aggressive on the course,” said Puig.

“Everybody has their own plans, and I am never going to change my strategy off the tee because I think I have a big advantage there and when you have it, you need to use it. I probably will not be as aggressive in some approaches, because you need to weigh whether it can give you shots, or take it away.

“And one big thing I have learned is transmitting more positive words and thoughts to myself. Even after bad shots, it’s important to tell yourself good things, or just blank your mind and not say anything. My body language hasn’t been the best after a bad hole and when I’m getting frustrated. Getting angry might work for a couple of times, but it won’t most times. That’s another thing I have learned for sure.”

Puig has certainly learned a lot about winning in 2023. His Torque team has won four times this season, most of any team in the league. And now he’s won for the first time as a pro. It should be the first of many for LIV Golf’s youngest player.

Main image: Asian Tour