LIV Golf Watch: 43 players set for PIF Saudi International

This week, 43 LIV Golf players will be playing in the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers, the final event of the Asian Tour's The International Series. At week's end, the top two players in The International Series Order of Merit will earn a spot on LIV Golf in 2026. The Saudi International serves as a massive opportunity for LIV Golf hopefuls, as the winner will receive an elevated 324 points.

RELATED: Full field, tee times for PIF Saudi International

To earn the LIV Golf spot, a player must have played in at least three The International Series events. Current LIV Golf players do not count in The International Series Rankings, therefore if a LIV Golf player ends up in one of the two spots, it will go to the next player on the list.

PIF SAUDI INTERNATIONAL POWERED BY SOFTBANK INVESTMENT ADVISERS

The PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers is set to conclude the Asian Tour’s The International Series 2025 season. The tournament boasts a massive $5 million total purse, with $1 million going to the winner. The Saudi International began in 2019 as a co-sanctioned event with the DP World Tour, initially hosted at the Royal Greens Golf & Country Club in King Abdullah Economic City.

In 2022, the tournament became the premier event on the Asian Tour's schedule. After its run at Royal Greens, the event relocated in 2024 to its current home at Riyadh Golf Club, which was also utilized for LIV Golf Riyadh in 2025 as well as 2026 and beyond. The event has produced some impressive champions including Dustin Johnson (2019, 2021), Graeme McDowell (2020), Harold Varner III (2022), Abraham Ancer (2023), and the most recent winner, Joaquin Niemann (2024), who won in a playoff.

Riyadh Golf Club provides a difficult championship test and is a par 71 measuring 7,411 yards. Nicknamed the "Pearl of the Desert," this course was designed by Scottish architect Duncan Thomson. The course features man-made lakes, streams, and dry desert ravines.

ABRAHAM ANCER. Ancer won the Saudi International at Royal Greens in 2023. Last year, the Mexican finished T22 at the Saudi International at Riyadh Golf Club and T42 at LIV Golf Riyadh. Ancer will be making his first start since the conclusion of the 2025 LIV Golf season.

JOSELE BALLESTER. The young Spaniard will be making his debut at Riyadh Golf Club. In his most recent start, the former U.S. Amateur champion finished T14 at the Link Hong Kong Open.

RICHARD BLAND. Bland has made two starts on The International Series this fall, finishing T30 in the Philippines and T31 in Hong Kong. He finished T59 at last year’s Saudi International and T40 at LIV Golf Riyadh.

DEAN BURMESTER. Burmester surprisingly missed the cut in his most recent start at the Link Hong Kong Open as one of the tournament favorites. Last year, the Stinger GC star finished T5 at LIV Golf Riyadh as well as T22 at the 2024 Saudi International.

BEN CAMPBELL. Campbell has struggled in the LIV Golf offseason, finishing T59 at the Link Hong Kong Open and missing the cut at the Moutai Singapore Open. Riyadh Golf Club should be a welcome site for the RangeGoats GC veteran. He finished 4th at last year’s Saudi International and T15 at LIV Golf Riyadh.

PAUL CASEY. Casey has played in Hong Kong (T59) and Singapore (T46) but is still shaking off the rust from some time off after the LIV Golf season ended. He didn’t play in last year’s Saudi International and finished T18 at LIV Golf Riyadh.

SERGIO GARCIA. The Fireballs GC captain has only played once this fall, finishing T39 at the Open de Espana. He has a solid track record at the Saudi International overall but missed the cut in last year’s start at Riyadh Golf Club. He finished T6 at LIV Golf Riyadh.

TALOR GOOCH. Gooch will be making his third start on the Asian Tour this fall after finishing T47 at the Link Hong Kong Open and T24 at the Moutai Singapore Open. Thus far, Riyadh Golf Club hasn’t suited the four-time LIV Golf winner as he finished T62 at last year’s Saudi International and T44 at LIV Golf Riyadh.

BRANDEN GRACE. Grace will be making his offseason debut this week in Riyadh. Although he struggled under the lights at LIV Golf Riyadh last season (T52), he finished T6 at last year’s Saudi International.

TYRRELL HATTON. The Legion XIII star has had a busy offseason, most recently finishing T14 at last week’s DP World Tour Championship. Hatton finished 4th in the Race to Dubai, showing once again that he is one of the best European players in the world. He finished 5th at the Saudi International last year as well as T6 at LIV Golf Riyadh.

LUCAS HERBERT. Herbert played in last week’s Ford NSW Open Championship as the defending champion and finished T44. The Australian finished T4 at LIV Golf Riyadh last year but finished T42 at the 2024 Saudi International.

SAM HORSFIELD. Horsfield will be making his third start on The International Series this fall but has yet to find success, finishing T52 in Hong Kong and missing the cut in the Philippines. He’s played well at Riyadh Golf Club. The Englishman finished T22 in this event last season as well as T12 at LIV Golf Riyadh.

CHARLES HOWELL III. Howell III had an impressive performance in his only start of the LIV Golf offseason, finishing T9 thanks in part to a unique new putter. The veteran finished T42 at LIV Golf Riyadh and did not tee it up at last year’s Saudi International.

YUBIN JANG. After being relegated, Jang revealed he’s been dealing with a ruptured left thumb ligament that he’s decided to play through in an effort to earn a spot back on LIV Golf. He recently finished T41 at the Link Hong Kong Open and finished T49 at LIV Golf Riyadh last year.

DUSTIN JOHNSON. The 4Aces GC captain has been a yearly feature at the Saudi International, winning the tournament in both 2019 and 2021. The switch to Riyadh Golf Club hasn’t been ideal for Johnson, however, as he missed the cut at last year’s Saudi International and finished T44 at LIV Golf Riyadh.

MATT JONES. The Ripper GC veteran put forth a stellar effort at the Link Hong Kong Open, finishing T6 after posting rounds of 63-66-67-66. Jones finished T9 at last year’s Saudi International and T33 at LIV Golf Riyadh.

MARTIN KAYMER. The Cleeks Golf Club captain is lacking in both course history and recent form entering the week. He’s played twice this fall, finishing T50 at the Alfred Dunhill Links and missed the cut at the Link Hong Kong Open. In his two trips to Riyadh Golf Club last year, Kaymer finished T42 at the Saudi International and T44 at LIV Golf Riyadh.

ANTHONY KIM. In two consecutive starts, Kim has shot his best 36-hole score since his return to professional golf. In both starts, he stalled over the weekend but has clearly made significant strides in his golf game of late. He finished T49 at LIV Golf Riyadh last season.

JASON KOKRAK. Kokrak made his offseason debut at the Link Hong Kong Open and finished 68th. He finished T9 at last year’s Saudi International but wasn’t quite as successful under the lights for LIV Golf Riyadh, where he finished T21.

JINICHIRO KOZUMA. Since the end of the LIV Golf season, Kozuma has made five starts on the Asian Tour and Japan Tour and has missed the cut in all five of them. He finished T59 at last year’s Saudi Invitational and did not play in LIV Golf Riyadh due to injury.

FREDERIK KJETTRUP. Kjettrup has made one start this fall, finishing T138 at the Alfred Dunhill Links. The now relegated Dane will have to find some form is he’s to make a run at a 2026 LIV Golf spot in the LIV Golf Promotions event.

ANIRBAN LAHIRI. Lahiri finished T21 at the Link Hong Kong Open in his most recent start. He finished T12 at LIV Golf Riyadh last year but missed the cut at the 2024 Saudi International.

CHIEH-PO LEE. After a relatively strong start this fall, Lee has regressed, missing the cut in back-to-back starts heading into the Saudi International, where he finished T62 last season. He finished T40 at LIV Golf Riyadh.

DANNY LEE. Lee missed the cut in both of his The International Series starts this fall in the Philippines and Hong Kong. He missed cut at last year’s Saudi International and finished T33 at LIV Golf Riyadh.

MARC LEISHMAN. Leishman is quietly enjoying an extremely successful offseason. The 2025 LIV Golf Miami winner has played in two events this fall, finishing T3 at the Western Australia Open and 6th at the International Series Philippines. Leishman finished T6 at LIV Golf Riyadh last year but missed the cut at the Saudi International.

GRAEME MCDOWELL. McDowell missed the cut at his only start this fall at the Link Hong Kong Open. He won the Saudi International in 2022, albeit at a different course. Last year, he finished T21 at LIV Golf Riyadh.

TOM MCKIBBIN. McKibbin has been the most impressive LIV Golf player this fall. He won the Link Hong Kong Open to earn a spot in The Masters and Open Championship. Last week, he was one of three LIV Golf players to take part in the DP World Tour Championship and finished T16.

ADRIAN MERONK. Meronk has fallen out of form since the LIV Golf season ended, missing the cut in four of five starts across the DP World Tour and Asian Tour. His best finish this fall was a T113 at the Alfred Dunhill Links. Perhaps a trip to Riyadh Golf Club where he won LIV Golf Riyadh to kick off the 2025 season will give the Cleeks Golf Club star the spark he needs to get things on track.

SEBASTIÁN MUÑOZ. Muñoz will be making his offseason debut fresh off what was arguably the best season of his professional golf career. The Colombian will be making his Saudi International debut but finished T2 at Riyadh Golf Club last year for LIV Golf Riyadh.

KEVIN NA. Na hasn’t shown much both terms of recent form. He’s finished 66th (Philippines) and T47 (Hong Kong) across his two The International Series starts this fall. The Iron Heads GC captain finished T52 at LIV Golf Riyadh last year but had an impressive finish of T9 at last year’s Saudi International.

JOAQUIN NIEMANN. Niemann is the defending champion at the Saudi International after winning in a playoff with a birdie last year to defeat Cameron Smith and Caleb Surratt in thrilling fashion. It’s been a relatively quiet offseason for the Torque GC star but he’ll look to ramp things up as he prepares for the Australian swing prior to the 2026 LIV Golf season.

LOUIS OOSTHUIZEN. The Stinger GC captain is having a strong offseason and has finished 11th or better in two of his three starts. Most recently, the South African finished T3 at the Link Hong Kong Open. Last year, he finished T17 at the Saudi International and T25 at LIV Golf Riyadh.

CARLOS ORTIZ. Ortiz will be making his offseason debut after enjoying a tremendously successful 2025 campaign. Last year, the Mexican missed the cut at the Saudi International and finished T25 at LIV Golf Riyadh.

THOMAS PIETERS. After a sluggish start this offseason where Pieters finished T66 and T71 in his two DP World Tour starts, the Belgian has gotten hot over his last two starts on the International Series. He finished T9 at both the Link Hong Kong Open and Moutai Singapore Open. Ironically, he also finished T9 at last year’s Saudi International.

DAVID PUIG. The rising Fireballs GC star has posted back-to-back top 15 finishes this offseason, most recently in the form of a T14 at the Link Hong Kong Open. He finished T6 at LIV Golf Riyadh last year but missed the cut at the Saudi International.

PATRICK REED. Reed has had a busy offseason but has shown some signs of slowing down in his last handful of starts. The 4Aces GC star will be making his ninth start since the conclusion of the LIV Golf season, the most of any LIV Golf player by a wide margin. Reed has an uninspiring history at the Saudi International overall but finished T17 last season.

CHARL SCHWARTZEL. Schwartzel made his first offseason start at The International Series Philippines and played well, finishing T12. He followed the strong performance with another productive outing, notching a T14 at the Link Hong Kong Open. Last year, he missed the cut at the Saudi International and finished T33 at LIV Golf Riyadh.

CAMERON SMITH. Smith came up just short at last year’s Saudi International, losing in a playoff to Joaquin Niemann with a par in the first playoff hole. The Ripper GC captain has made only one start this fall, finishing T71 at the Alfred Dunhill Links. He finished T25 at LIV Golf Riyadh last season.

BRENDAN STEELE. Steele has made one start this fall, finishing 159th at the Alfred Dunhill Links. Last season, he finished T30 at LIV Golf Riyadh and missed the cut at the Saudi International.

CALEB SURRATT. Surratt lost in a three-man playoff to Joaquin Niemann at last year’s Saudi International and finished 11th at LIV Golf Riyadh. LIV Golf’s youngest player has the power off the tee to compete at Riyadh Golf Club and enters the week in solid form having finished T7 at the International series Philippines prior to two lackluster finishes in Hong Kong (MC) and Singapore (T65).

CAMERON TRINGALE. Tringale has used the offseason to rest and recover and will be making his first appearance since the LIV Golf Michigan Team Championship. The HyFlyers GC stalwart has shown that he enjoys Riyadh Golf Club as he finished T18 at LIV Golf Riyadh and T9 at last year’s Saudi International.

PETER UIHLEIN. Uihlein is fresh off a runner-up finish in his most recent start at the Link Hong Kong Open. He’s been one of the most consistent performers on the Internationals Series since its inception and will be a contender this week. Last season, he finished T29 at the Saudi International and T21 at LIV Golf Riyadh.

HAROLD VARNER III. Varner III is a past champion of the Saudi International, winning the tournament at Royal Greens in 2022. Last season, he finished T21 at LIV Golf Riyadh and withdrew from the Saudi International after the third round. Varner III has made one start this fall, finishing T36 at the Link Hong Kong Open.

MATTHEW WOLFF. Wolff will be making his offseason debut. Last season, he finished T15 at LIV Golf Riyadh, which was his second-best finish of the season. He finished T39 at last year’s Saudi International but has the power off the tee that will suit him at Riyadh Golf Club.

PLAYER NEWS

Tyrrell Hatton finished 4th in the final Race to Dubai standings after posting a 14th-place finish at the DP World Tour Championship. The Legion XIII star ended the week ranked 1st in Strokes Gained: Approach, averaging +1.76 stroke per round on the field. Hatton also ranked 2nd in Par-3 scoring (2.88) and 3rd in Scrambling (76.5%).

The third episode of Behind The 4ACES is out, with this episode focusing on how Patrick Reed is misunderstood.

LIV Golf Adelaide has won the top prize at the World Golf Awards for the third consecutive year. The award was voted on by professional players, media, and fans, as reported by News Australia.

At last week’s NSW Open, Ripper GC’s Lucas Herbert praised LIV Golf’s decision to go to 72 holes while speaking to Bunkered. “The good thing about a new CEO with LIV in Scott O’Neil, and a new CEO at the PGA Tour with Brian Rolapp is, I think now there is a vested interest in wanting to bring the game together a little bit more,” Herbert said. “And from LIV’s perspective, maybe making it less of a disruptive environment and more wanting to fit in the golfing ecosystem. We see how good golf is in America with the PGA Tour, and we want to be able to make that impact across the world.”

Herbert finished 44th at the Ford NSW Open.

Former PGA Tour player and current commentator for NBC Sports Smylie Kaufman told The Golfing Gazette that he believes Tom McKibbin could be LIV Golf’s first home grown superstar. “I would say one of the other big knocks on the LIV tour is that they haven’t created their own big stars, but they have a potential young star in the making with Tom McKibbin, who they can claim as their own," he said.

While speaking to Golf Digest Middle East, The International Series season-long standings leader Scott Vincent shared his approach to this week’s event. “I never focus too much on leaderboards – to me it is more important to concentrate on every single shot, to make sure I give it my best. I practise this every day, and I try to stay in the moment during my practice so I can do the same out on the golf course. ... Of course there will be competition out there, but I can’t really worry too much about that – I just need to trust in my process and continue to try and improve and get better every day and every time I stand over the golf ball.”

Over the weekend, YouTube star Grant Horvat teased that he will have an upcoming video with Crushers GC Captain Bryson DeChambeau.