Kim then birdied the par-4 11th with a 20-foot putt to create separation, then battled hard to maintain it. The par-4 14th was a key moment, as he twice overcame tricky lies near bunkers that left him with awkward stances, eventually saving par with a 15-foot putt. By the time he reached the 18th hole, he was three shots clear of fourth place and could afford a final bogey.<\/p>\n
\u201cFelt like if I made that putt, it could really swing the momentum,\u201d Kim said of the 14th. \u201cI beared down and holed it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lee and Hellgren are both looking forward to the step up in competition that LIV Golf offers with a field that includes major champions such as Bryson DeChambeau<\/a>, Jon Rahm<\/a>, Dustin Johnson<\/a> , Phil Mickelson<\/a> and others.<\/p>\n \u201cDefinitely have to hit it longer to keep up with those guys and maybe get my short game a little bit sharper,\u201d Lee said.<\/p>\n \u201cObviously this is going to change our life, for my family,\u201d Hellgren added. \u201cBut it\u2019s still just a tournament, and I\u2019m sure I\u2019ll be going to Riyadh to try to win because I like the feeling of winning.\u201d<\/p>\n Kim, meanwhile, is glad just to have another season on LIV Golf. Sunday\u2019s outcome was arguably the biggest moment in his two years since his return to the sport.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a ton of satisfaction,\u201d Kim said at the end of his press conference. \u201cI\u2019m sure I\u2019ll understand that all that work has really shown this week, maybe later tonight when I\u2019m drinking an iced tea. It means a lot to me because three years ago, doctors told me that I potentially had two weeks to live. So just to be here standing in front of you guys is a blessing.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n PROMOTIONS TOP 3<\/p>\n A quick look at each of the three players who claimed full-time wild-card spots for the 2026 LIV Golf League:<\/p>\n RICHARD T. LEE Has six professional wins, most recently at the 2025 Woori Financial Group Championship on the Korean Tour \u2026 Played predominantly on the Asian Tour and Korean Tour in recent years \u2026 Asian Tour Rookie of the Year in 2013 \u2026 Played the 2007 U.S. Open at the age of 16, the second-youngest player in tournament history \u2026 Turned professional after the tournament \u2026 Has three Asian Tour wins, including the 2024 BNI Indonesian Masters, an International Series tournament.<\/p>\n BJORN HELLGREN Has eight professional wins, most recently in December at the Saudi Open presented by PIF \u2026 Finished sixth on the 2025 Asian Tour Order of Merit \u2026 Topped the Swedish Golf Tour Order of Merit in 2015 \u2026 Has victories on the Swedish Golf Tour and Nordic Golf League \u2026 Former teammate of Brooks Koepka at Florida State University \u2026 Turned pro in 2013 after two years in college.<\/p>\n ANTHONY KIM Spent last two seasons as a wild card player on LIV Golf after returning to competitive golf following a 12-year retirement \u2026 Turned pro in 2006 and quickly established himself as one of the sport\u2019s most exciting young talents \u2026 Has won three PGA Tour events and played a key role on the victorious 2008 U.S. Ryder Cup team \u2026 Ranked as high as sixth in the world in 2008.\u00a0<\/p>\n FINAL LEADERBOARD<\/p>\n The top three players after Sunday\u2019s final round of the 36-hole weekend shootout at Black Diamond Ranch claimed the three available LIV Golf wild-card spots for 2026. The top 10 players and ties earned exemption into The International Series on the Asian Tour.\u00a0<\/p>\n 1. Richard T. Lee, Canada \u2013 64-65 (129\/-11) ROUND 4 NOTES<\/p>\n INTERNATIONAL SERIES: Along with the three LIV Golf wild-card spots going to the top three finishers, all players finishing inside the top 10 receive exemptions to the 2026 International Series on the Asian Tour.\u00a0<\/p>\n
35 years old | Canada<\/p>\n
35 years old | Sweden<\/p>\n
40 years old | USA<\/p>\n
2. Bjorn Hellegren, Sweden \u2013 70-64 (134\/-6)
3. Anthony Kim, USA \u2013 66-69 (135\/-5)
T4. Lucas Bjerregaard, Denmark \u2013 67-70 (137\/-3)
T4. Sarit Suwannarut, Thailand \u2013 69-68 (137\/-3)
T4. Kieran Vincent, Zimbabwe \u2013 70-67 (137\/-3)
T4. Jeunghun Wang, South Korea \u2013 69-68 (137\/-3)
T8. Oliver Bekker, South Africa \u2013 66-72 (138\/-2)
T8. Cory Crawford, Australia \u2013 71-67 (138\/-2)
T8. Jazz Janewattananond, Thailand \u2013 66-72 (138\/-2)
T8. Matt Jones, Australia \u2013 70-68 (138\/-2)
T8. Takanori Konishi, Japan \u2013 69-69 (138\/-2)
T8. Christopher Wood, Australia \u2013 71-67 (138\/-2)
14. Rattanon Wannasrichan, Thailand \u2013 70-69 (139\/-1)
15. Joe Pagdin, England \u2013 69-71 (140\/E)
T16. Sadom Kaewkanjana, Thailand \u2013 73-69 (142\/+2)
T16. Julian Perico, Peru \u2013 70-72 (142\/+2)
T16. Travis Smyth, Australia \u2013 71-71 (142\/+2)
T16. Miguel Tabuena, Philippines \u2013 72-70 (142\/+2)
20. Jose Islas, Mexico \u2013 72-72 (144\/+4)
21. Max Kennedy, Ireland \u2013 69-76 (145\/+5)
22. Danthai Boonma, Thailand \u2013 76-77 (153\/+13)\u00a0<\/p>\n