Niemann leads PIF Saudi International entering final round

Dec 6, 2024 - 2:15 PMWritten by: Asian Tour Staff

Torque GC Captain Joaquin Niemann has the lead entering Round 4 of the PIF Saudi International but a host of fellow LIV Golf members are on his heels.

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Torque GC Captain Joaquin Niemann drained a 10-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to finish one stroke ahead of RangeGoats GC's Peter Uihlein and Legion XIII's Caleb Surratt after the third round of the US$5million PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers.

Niemann has been close to winning during the past three weeks but hasn't been able to close during final rounds. But he will have a chance to rectify that on Saturday after he fired a 6-under 65 to lead the way at 17 under.

Uihlein, The International Series Rankings leader aiming to wrap up top spot tomorrow, shot a 5-under 66, while Surrat commanded Riyadh Golf Club with a course-record 10-under 61.

Legion XIII's Tyrell Hatton (66), Smash GC's Jason Kokrak (66) and Logan McAllister (67) are a stroke further back in the season-finale on the Asian Tour and The International Series.

Niemann, who was tied for the lead with after Round 1 with Uihlein, and Ripper GC Captain Cam Smith started with back-to-back birdies but slowed down after that. Surratt, playing further ahead, raced to the top of the leaderboard. Niemann made his only bogey of the day on No. 9 and was out of the running before bouncing back with birdies on Nos. 12 and 13, then added an eagle on No. 15 where he chipped in. He finished with a closing birdie.

“After that start, I thought it was going to be one of those days,” said Niemann, who tied for fifth in the Australian Open last week and was T7 in the DP World Tour championship the week before. "Just like Caleb, he played great. I thought it was going to be one of those rounds, and I kept hitting good shots. The putts were just not going in. It was a little bit frustrating.

“I made that bogey on nine, which really kind of frustrated me a little bit more knowing that I was kind of staying behind the leader. After that, I knew that there's a good stretch where you can go low. I did that the first two days too.”

A two-time winner this year individually on the LIV Golf League, Niemann is attempting to claim his first 72-hole title since last year’s Australian Open.

Uihlein, winner of last week’s International Series Qatar, continues to be in great position to win the rankings but will need another strong round Saturday to fend off his nearest challengers with 1,000 points going to the winner.

Niemann, Surrat, and LIV Golf reserve player Ben Campbell, who shot 64 today and stands four back, are the closest to toppling him at the moment. They need to win tomorrow and hope Uihlein slips down the leaderboard to have any chance.

“It just depends on the weather," Uihlein said. "I haven't seen what the wind is forecasted for tomorrow, but you can go really, really low out here if there's no wind. I’ll just do the same. Make a bunch of birdies, try to sink some putts. That's about it.”

Surrat has finished T3 and T2 in his only two appearances on the Asian Tour, both this year, and has a chance to win tomorrow after a spectacular round today made up of an eagle and eight birdies.

“I played really nicely,” Surratt, 20, said. “Played great, made a bunch of putts. I haven't been making very many putts the last two days, but I've been hitting it really solid.”

Thailand’s amateur star Ratchanon “TK” Chantananuwat, on a break from Stanford University studies, flashed with a 64, moving up to 12 under and five off the lead.

Fireballs GC's Abraham Ancer is 10 under after a 67 while LIV Golf reserve player John Catlin, who was crowned Asian Tour Order of Merit champion last week, carded a 70 and is 6 under for the week.

For more information, check www.internationalseries.com.

(Photo courtesy of Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour)