LIV Golf enters uncharted territory Saturday at ROSHN Group LIV Golf Riyadh, and the historic occasion likely will be accompanied by a good, old-fashioned final-round shootout on both the team and individual leaderboards.<\/p>\n
The league\u2019s first 72-hole regular-season tournament, part of the significant format adjustments made for the 2026 season, concludes with Saturday night\u2019s fourth round at Riyadh Golf Club. New LIV Golf player Elvis Smylie of Ripper GC and original league member Peter Uihlein of RangeGoats GC are tied for the lead at 16 under. Smash GC\u2019s Talor Gooch is just a shot back, the closest pursuer of the 17 players who are within six shots of the co-leaders.<\/p>\n
In the team competition, Torque GC \u2013 fueled by the twin 7-under 65s by Mexican Olympic teammates Abraham Ancer and Carlos Ortiz \u2013 are at 46 under, two shots ahead of Smash, which is seeking to deliver a victory to Gooch on his debut as captain. Ripper, eyeing next week\u2019s home tournament at LIV Golf Adelaide, is another shot back.<\/p>\n
Had the tournament been played under the old 54-hole format, Uihlein and Smylie would have had to settle things in a playoff Friday. But now the leaders and contenders get 18 more holes to crown a champion.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, thanks for bringing that up,\u201d laughed Uihlein, who has appeared in all 51 LIV Golf tournaments and is seeking his first league individual title. \u201cI feel like 72 holes fits me a little better. If you would have told me at the beginning of the week, hey, you\u2019d be tied for the lead after 54 and you have a chance to win, that\u2019s where you\u2019d want to be. I\u2019d take it. Looking forward to the challenge tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 23-year-old Smylie is making his first LIV Golf start after joining the all-Australian Rippers last month, so he never competed under the 54-hole format. But he is looking to send a message to his new competitors. He said he was in \u201ctotal control\u201d of his shots during Friday\u2019s bogey-free 7-under 65.<\/p>\n
\u201cWithout a doubt, I want to prove my worth in this league, and I want to establish myself as one of the best guys in this league,\u201d the left-hander said. \u201cThe best way to do that is by going out and making a statement this week.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ancer is among the group of players who now get a fourth round to chase a LIV Golf trophy instead of having to be satisfied with a high finish. The new Torque player won his first LIV Golf individual title two years ago in the 54-hole format while playing for Fireballs GC. He welcomes the opportunity to have an extra 18 holes to claim a second title.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like 54 holes was good enough to figure out who\u2019s playing the best golf,\u201d said Ancer, whose 65 was highlighted by a 50-foot plus eagle putt. \u201cYou just feel like it\u2019s a little bit more of a sprint, have a little bit less time for you to make mistakes and come back from them. But then playing 72 holes, you feel like if you\u2019re a steady player, that would maybe help you rise to the top of the leaderboard.\u201d<\/p>\n
Two of the steadiest LIV Golf players are Gooch and Legion XIII Captain Jon Rahm, who\u2019ve combined to win the last three season-long Individual Championships. They\u2019ve each celebrated 13 trophies (individual and team success), tying for the most in league history, and remain in contention for more hardware thanks to the additional fourth round.<\/p>\n
Gooch, who follows the Rule of 67 \u2013 everything takes care of itself by shooting 67 or better \u2013 shot his third consecutive 67 as he seeks a fifth individual tournament title.<\/p>\n
Rahm shot his second 67 of the week and is tied for fourth with Ancer, Smash GC\u2019s Jason Kokrak and 4Aces GC\u2019s Thomas Detry, who \u2013 like Smylie \u2013 is making his league debut in Riyadh.<\/p>\n
Despite increased winds and rainy weather on Friday, with players expecting the tougher conditions to impact scoring, the field shot its lowest average of the week, nearly 3-1\/2 strokes under par during a lively third-round Moving Day.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt didn\u2019t feel like it was easier than yesterday, but everyone went low,\u201d said Uihlein, who opened his round with four consecutive birdies en route to a 66. \u201cI\u2019m expecting it to be a shootout, but we could come out here tomorrow and it\u2019s blowing 15, 20 again, so you never know.\u201d<\/p>\n
Added Ancer: \u201cI felt like the scores weren\u2019t going to be low, and then I got off to a really hot start and I was like, \u2018Ooh, I\u2019m going to be way up there\u2019, and then I\u2019m like, \u2018Damn, everybody is shooting really low.\u2019 That was surprising. I guess it doesn\u2019t matter what the weather does. It feels like we need to make a lot of birdies tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n
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