Niemann one back after Round 1 of PIF Saudi International
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia - A host of LIV Golf players started hot at the PIF Saudi International, led by Torque GC Captain Joaquin Niemann who is tied for second after a 6-under 65 at Riyadh Golf Club.
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LIV Golf players from the 2024 season who are tied for fifth after 5-under 66s include Smash GC's Talor Gooch, RangeGoats GC's Peter Uihlein, Cleeks GC's Kalle Samooja, Iron Heads GC Captain Kevin Na, Fireballs GC's Eugenio Chacarra, RangeGoats GC's Matthew Wolff, Smash GC's Jason Kokrak and Iron Heads GC's Jinichiro Kozuma. Uihlein's start was particularly important considering he currently leads The International Series Rankings.
Niemann is here after finishing T5 in the Australian Open week, and despite the lengthy trip, showed no signs of tiredness.
“I feel like my game is in good shape,” said Niemann, who finished second in the Individual Championship race this year on the LIV Golf League. "It's nice to finish the year having a lot of good golf. Playing good tournaments, too. It's been fun. I haven't had a great Sunday yet in my last three tournaments, and so yeah, I think there's always stuff to improve. I'm off to a great start here in Saudi, so I'm pretty happy with that.”
They are all chasing Chinese-Taipei’s Chang Wei-lun, who capitalized on securing his visa to play here this week at the last minute by taking a share of the lead in the US$5million PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers today. He fired a bogey-free 7-under 64 , along with Sadom Kaewkanjana from Thailand, to make the best possible start in the star-studded season-ending event on both the Asian Tour and The International Series.
“I only got my visa on Monday, which was the day I arrived,” laughed Chang. "It is a really big event, probably the biggest I have played in, so I am a little nervous.”
Four birdies on the front and three on the back saw him take the lead against a field that includes 42 players from the LIV Golf League. The 31-year-old is clearly still on a high after finishing T2 in the BNI Indonesian Masters last month, which helped secure his playing rights for next season.
He added: “I am especially excited to see DJ [4Aces GC Captain Dustin Johnson] here this week. It would be really cool to play in the same group as him.”
Sadom, a two-time winner on the Asian Tour, dropped his only shot of the day on No. 17 but birdied the last, like Chang.
"This is the last tournament of the year, and I’ve prepared well," Sadom said. "I’m happy and honored to be playing in this tournament where there are so many great golfers in the world. I’ve tried to study every good shot from them.”
Promising young Saudi golfer Khalid Attieh, who made history earlier this year at the International Series Oman where he became the first Saudi amateur to make the cut in a professional tournament, carded a 67 while his compatriot Saud Al Sharif fired a 68 – a nod to the progress golf is making in Saudi.
LIV Golf reserve player John Catlin, who wrapped up the Asian Tour Order of Merit title last week, also returned a 68. He is in second place on the rankings and one of a wealth of players who can take that title and secure a place on next year’s LIV Golf League as the winner this week will earn 1,000 points.
Defending champion Abraham Ancer of Fireballs GC also shot 68.
For more information on PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers, visit www.internationalseries.com.
(Photo courtesy of Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour)